kiss the flame
it seemed like such a simple question
what would you take with you
if your house was burning down
but it came with too many answers
and then
not enough
and then it sat just there
staring back at me like a mirror
taunting me
daring me
double dog daring me
to answer
if you want to know
i will tell you
on my way out the door
i picked up books and photos
my grandmother’s
gold and white teapot
the christmas bell
my father gave me
the drawings my son
crayoned as a child
a favorite teacup
my journals and poetry
the rose-colored glasses
my mom handed me
on my thirteenth
birthday
cards and letters
my favorite soup pot
the flannel shirt
my husband wore
at our wedding
lace doilies crocheted
by my oldest friend
a necklace made by my sister
my arms grew tired
my burden, heavy
when i got to the door
i turned
and set it all down
all of it
arranged it neatly
in a shrine
to memory
took one step backward
and then another
and another
then finally turned
and walked outside
empty handed
empty handed
heart full
::
::
November 1st, 2011 at 9:04 am
a full heart is how i imagine you leaving your house every day. a beautiful post, kelly, that reminds me to pack all that matters within as often as possible.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:08 am
perfection.
the only things coming with me, should i experience the burning, will be my cats.
November 1st, 2011 at 9:13 am
We take those things that are the most valuable and irreplaceable to us. All the rest is just stuff. Nice piece.
November 1st, 2011 at 10:14 am
oh my god, but this is wonderful. yes, yes, yes. YES! bookmarking right now.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:20 am
Oh. My. God.
Thank you. I think about this, actually, & recognize that I could get out nothing, probably, if the house was ablaze, just open the doors & let the animals run (I’d never be able to corral them in that situation. This is good…it’s a ritual shrine. <3
November 1st, 2011 at 11:50 am
this poem is amazing… our memories are more valuable than any physical objects… still, if my home was burning down, I’d try to leave with my arms full of things. nice write.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:26 pm
this brought me to tears. all the beauty and love is already within us. thank you for reminding me. thank you for sharing your words, always.
November 1st, 2011 at 12:57 pm
the cats .. and my mom’s rings ..
November 1st, 2011 at 3:07 pm
whew…the crayon drawings and the husband’s shirt…and then set it all down leaving empty handed….wow great piece…
November 1st, 2011 at 3:08 pm
This speaks volumes to me. I want to cry, which is completely unlike me.
November 1st, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Amen. Now that was a beautiful piece. Thanks for sharing.
November 1st, 2011 at 3:15 pm
You still got it going on, poetry wise. And imagine you always will. Absolutely a wonderful poem.
I’d take my favorite teacup too, except hubby broke them all. On accident of course.
A flannel shirt sounds nice and cozy for a wedding!! 🙂
Amazing little shrine, and ending for this poe.
xo
November 1st, 2011 at 3:15 pm
sweet ending…
November 1st, 2011 at 3:16 pm
poem, not poe, of course, on that last word.
Poe would be so lucky to write this great!
November 1st, 2011 at 3:25 pm
Yes, that which matters most cannot be seen but is felt by the heart.
Fabulous piece.
November 1st, 2011 at 3:41 pm
oh i think that’s a good place to be…empty handed and heart full…while i read i started to think about what i would take and my arms were already feeling the weight…think i’d go with empty hands as well..
November 1st, 2011 at 3:46 pm
what a gripping poem about emancipation… truly fine…
November 1st, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Loved it – the careful compilation of what might, but won’t be taken. Empty handed, heart full, what better way to go?
November 1st, 2011 at 4:10 pm
I’ve thought about this often . . . like you there are many things I would love to take but if it really boiled down to it and I had to pick just one thing it would be my box of handwritten letters. Not sure I could walk out empty handed despite the memories that I know I have inside of me.
November 1st, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Lovely. We did a Tarot reading for the U.S. for the year of 2011, and it turned up the card for Happiness. I was quiet puzzled, at first. But I have come to understand that we are all on a journey to understand the nature of true happiness. You seem to have embodied your own insight in this wonderful poem. It is NOT about the stuff, but the love of family and friends. We are all at the door, the house is on fire, and it is time to set down all that stuff that provides illusary ties to the past. We are walking through the fire and will not be burned!
November 1st, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Goosebumps and tears prickling. Gorgeous.
November 1st, 2011 at 5:03 pm
wow..the ending was just stunning! gorgeous!
November 1st, 2011 at 5:37 pm
Great piece indeed, wow. And that’s all one really needs as well. Although I’d recommend some clothes at least, could get rather chilly when the fire stopped..haha
November 1st, 2011 at 5:54 pm
This is beautiful. Because of the drought and proximity of wildfires this year, I actually made an ‘evacuation list’… my dogs, my camera and my external hard drive.
November 1st, 2011 at 6:55 pm
oh yes, it lives there always,
in our hearts.
Such a safe nesting place
for our treasures.
Thanks for the ponder:)
-Jennifer
November 1st, 2011 at 7:03 pm
I like the twist in the end.. meaningful share…
lovely words ~
November 1st, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Great moral to the poem. So true. Our most treasured possessions are possessed in the heart. Lovely write
November 1st, 2011 at 7:13 pm
We all share common touchstones from our past. Thank you Kelly Jo for reminding me of some of my favored memories.
November 1st, 2011 at 7:13 pm
speechless……
November 1st, 2011 at 9:58 pm
My first time her. Wow!
November 1st, 2011 at 9:59 pm
Meant ‘here.’ Was too stunned to type clearly. Thanks for sharing.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:04 pm
absolutely beautiful.
November 1st, 2011 at 11:25 pm
Oh my God! This is such a beautiful piece. I got goosebumps when you set it all down and left empty-handed. I am learning this lesson every day. Thank you!
November 1st, 2011 at 11:50 pm
heart full. Thats what we want to be. Beautiful.
November 2nd, 2011 at 2:26 am
Beautiful!
November 2nd, 2011 at 5:26 am
I’m with Nana. I simply do not know what to say.
November 2nd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
This is so beautiful, I could almost cry. I’m a little sadistic, so I was picturing you deciding to stay in the house and burn with your heart and all the memories of burden. But your ending was much better. 🙂
November 2nd, 2011 at 5:01 pm
oh my. this is something.
November 2nd, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Empty handed . . . heart full. Perfect!
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:26 am
The shrine took me by surprise, and hit hard. I loved it! Empty handed and full hearted was such an appropriate ending. I also really liked the interspersing of voiced comments.
November 3rd, 2011 at 12:34 am
empty handed, but heart full. i think it can take us a lifetime to learn the lesson of this…
November 3rd, 2011 at 4:03 am
Empty handed but heartfull… lovely. I liked the ending … so powerful and perfect…
Shashi
ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com/2011/11/whispers-fire-faayar-faayaar-dedicated.html
November 4th, 2011 at 10:34 am
this is moving and apt.
a beautiful message sent with impressive imagery.
🙂
November 12th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
A gift. Thank you.
November 17th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
I love this.