Phossy Jaw

i recently read
that years ago
many match
workers went on
strike

no pun intended
for they had been
exposed without
knowing phosphorus
would

be dipped with
the sticks they
held in but not
holding their
breath

exposed so
in my trench
coat i'm trying
to show myself
so

as i open and
close my clothes
rapidly acting as
a bellows to blow
heat

upon flames as
my body reclaims
the burning desire
to burst into
flames

spontaneously
combusting with
cigarette in mouth
though i don't smoke
do you have

a light?

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019



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Date: 5/24/2019 8:22:00 AM
So many words floating in my head the only one I can I get a grip on is awesome. Sorry. Lame I know. This poem deserves more.
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Connelly Avatar
Jeff Connelly
Date: 5/24/2019 10:38:00 AM
No no Maureen thank you so much for such an awesome comment. My writing has always been influenced by cummings; Creeley, and Poe, but I have added another influence. A fellow Canadian of yours Norm MacDonald.
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