Old Flames

They called her the Fire Woman
for wherever there was fire
she was there

In the Fall
when all
the brush needed clearing
in Spring
when everything
else needed to be burned
she showed up, smiling
beguiling flames
to her beck and call

Her tall, brown-skinned frame
'though lean and weathered
and stooped a bit
was still powerful and somewhat
imposing- not so much in
her physical presence
as in her demeanor
and the silent
sparkle
in her amber eyes
as if embers
from the flames
were in her spirit
and fire itself was in her soul

She was old
no one knew her exact age
or much about her
except that she loved
to play with fire
and it fell and rose
to her every whim

No one could lay claim
to controlling fire
but her...
and then him-

A strange romance
between the Fireman
and the Fire Woman began
a love that revolved and
flickered around
their common passion
for flames
one who started fires and
one who put them out
without a doubt
it was intense heat
that drew them together

But unlike young lovers
who easily get burned
they were slow and steady
patiently tending
their home fires
taking care to control
and manage the blaze to
gently keep it going, and not
let it get too cool or too hot, but
just right for a brisk, chilly night

Two old flames
burning toward the end of life
keeping each other
from the cold

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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Date: 11/25/2018 5:49:00 PM
wow, I really love this one, Rhona. What great story telling. FAVE
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Mcferran Avatar
Rhona Mcferran
Date: 11/26/2018 5:49:00 AM
Thank you!! I'm so glad you enjoyed it, my friend! ;)
Date: 11/24/2018 4:08:00 PM
So vibrant and powerful, love the last stanza!
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Mcferran Avatar
Rhona Mcferran
Date: 11/24/2018 9:26:00 PM
Thank you so much, Michelle! ;)
Date: 11/21/2018 3:06:00 PM
Is that why Dolly Parton sang, "Old flames can't hold a candle to you?" Aloha! Rico
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Rhona Mcferran
Date: 11/21/2018 6:51:00 PM
Hahahaha! ;D Thanks for the funny comment, Rico! Aloha!
Date: 11/21/2018 6:55:00 AM
What are you doing up so early my friend? Writing the BEST poem. You know how much this appealed to my pyromaniac self! "She was old no one knew her exact age or much about her except that she loved to play with fire and it fell and rose to her every whim" I love it that I misread fireman the first time and thought of it as FIREman not fireman. Hahaha what a delight; loved the pun, and the play on words. This one delighted me, and of course, Trixie.
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Mcferran Avatar
Rhona Mcferran
Date: 11/21/2018 7:13:00 AM
I'm back on my very weird schedule again... This one has been in the back of my mind for a time, & I had a feeling you would love it! Your comments always make my day!! ;)
Krutsinger Avatar
Caren Krutsinger
Date: 11/21/2018 6:56:00 AM
Went to my FAV list immediately, if not sooner.
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