Caren Krutsinger Poet Haibun

Dragon Lies In Wait

You have to put the coal in the furnace. My teeth begin to shake. It is cold here, but I am not afraid of the cold. I pretend I do not hear her. You have been taught this, she reminds me. Remember to put the mitt on before you turn the handle, or you will burn yourself badly. I am terrified, but her look pushes me into my shoes. My heart gulps at every one of the twelve steps to the basement. Sometimes there are rats down here. They do not bother
me as much as the coal furnace. It is scary and angry. I feel it despises me greatly. I am nine.


                               

                                    dragon lies in wait
                                   i reluctantly face him
                                      childhood furnace

Written 7-9-2020
Contest: A Memory Poetry Contest (haibun)
Sponsor: Line Gathier

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Sand Blown July 10, 2020 at 12:23 AM ...one of my jobs around the house was to shovel burnt coals from the furnace ....kids worked for their allowance : ) .......stan sand Caren Krutsinger July 10, 2020 at 5:01 PM I had to do it, and it was awful Stan. So now I know there wer two of us. It makes it feel better somehow.