Saving 7 Items From My Burning Home

Oh goodness the house is on fire, 
And so is the one across the street,
And the one next door, I’m scared, 
And frantic and overpowered with smoke!
I hear the fire crackling 
And voices and feel intense heat,
I have to run, and save some
Of my treasures, they are irreplaceable,
Someone is shouting,
Get out of this house, I hear running feet,
Put a wet towel over my head
And head to the lounge which is Smokey,
Collect my first treasure an oil painting 
Of my late parents, got to beat
This fire but there’s still more I need 
To save, my religious icons from the
Spare bedroom and whilst   I am there,
My favourite pink sneakers, repeat 
After me I say to myself, ‘You’ll
Be fine’, must hurry - grab my laptop 
With irreplaceable information and 
My poetry soup poems, I hear someone greet
Me, a fireman, he tells me to leave, 
But I still must find great Greek Grandma’s
Vase, whoops grabbed it, nearly dropped it
I blush and try to be discreet, 
As I ripped off my pyjama pants,  
They were scorched and hot, rush Jennifer
Rush, can’t take much more of this fire and heat, 
Unhooked my degrees, as I turn, meet 
The chief fireman who grabs my arm, 
My word girl, this a command, leave 
This house at once!  Please there’s just one 
More thing I must find, I say yes, but cheat
And turn back towards where half of the 
House has burnt down, I have one-minute left!
Go back to my bedroom through fearsome flames,
Still have the wet towel on my head,
Save my gold trinket bracelet from my 21st, 
And with newfound strength, run to the street,
I only have my pajama top and panties on 
But covered with minor burns, bruises and soot,
From head to foot!
Happy as I lark, I couldn’t care for the rest,
And I saved what I wanted, 
Risking my life and trying my best!

THANK GOODNESS MY FAMILY WERE NOT IN THE HOUSE!

ENTERING POETRY CONTEST – SEVEN THINGS YOU WOULD SAVE IF YOUR HOUSE WAS ON FIRE.
14/2/2019

Copyright © | Year Posted 2019



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Date: 2/28/2019 1:29:00 PM
aha - excellent presence of mind
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 3/1/2019 12:07:00 AM
Yes, I presume the poem does indicate that I was- we were hijacked one late afternoon on the 21st February 2 years ago. My husband and I each had a gun to our heads, we gave them all, and miraculously they did not harm us and rode away. I was so calm and I had accepted we were going to die, but we had His protection with us, and we escaped without a hair on our heads been harmed. Always great to have you visit Jack. Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/26/2019 11:16:00 PM
Hi Jennifer, I had to read this again! Great job :-) Alexis
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/26/2019 11:24:00 PM
Thanks Alexis, imagine if this story were true or if we had all had a real exp. with a fearsome fire . Tx. for dropping by again. Poetry hugs - Jennifer.
Date: 2/17/2019 12:12:00 PM
Saving treasures in a very dangerous and traumatic situation that required quick thinking..Best wishes
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/18/2019 7:56:00 AM
Absolutely Joseph - Yes in the poem I was quick thinking - would I be so brave in a real life situation, only if a loved one was trapped! Poetry hugs, Jennifer
Date: 2/17/2019 6:13:00 AM
Reads to me like a good contender for the contest . Way to go. Thanks for dropping by my page. Sara
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/17/2019 9:41:00 AM
Thanks Sara, you write beautiful poetry! Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/16/2019 8:30:00 PM
Whew! Very intense; I probably wouldn't have had the presence of mind to grab a wet towel; well done! Good luck in the contest.
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/17/2019 12:13:00 AM
Thank-you MLK. It must have been flaming hot, so did it for the heat and smoke, and my legs got singed a few times as I burnt my pajama pants - see, I almost lived the part, have already had a nightmare since I wrote i this poem! Thanks for your good wishes. Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/16/2019 5:54:00 PM
G'day Jennifer … does anybody really have contingent plans for their house fire and what to save first. There wouldn't be too many I imagine as few believe it will happen to them. Your verse is full of urgency Jennifer. I have a fire poem posted a long time again titled Touch Cindy - it's true so fire has my respect - thank you Jennifer - Lindsay
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/17/2019 1:21:00 PM
Hi Lindsay, Have read Touch Cindy and commented. Wonderful poem. Hugs, Jennifer.
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/17/2019 12:19:00 AM
Australia has raging bush fires I know, so do we and America also. No one escapes what fate has in store Lindsay, we are all (those of us who have lived through something like this,) just blessed to be alive! I will go to your poem right now, I would like to read it, and you do know, how very much I enjoy all you have penned! Poetry hugs, Jennifer
Date: 2/16/2019 5:42:00 PM
thank God the family was out, your poetry was nail biting today , Jenn, well done xo
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/17/2019 12:24:00 AM
Thank-you, sorry but also glad I had you in a nail biting situation, that means I achieved the urgency and unbearable heat and fear one goes in such a horrible situation. Lovely comment, tx. Pixie Dust. Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/16/2019 3:35:00 PM
Hi Jennifer, You did a great job with the contest theme. I agree with Andrea, you took us along with you as you rushed to save your precious things. You penned yourself a winner with write. I wish you the best of luck in the contest:-) Alexis
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/16/2019 4:16:00 PM
Hi Alexis, Lovely to have you visit - I think it must be such a terrifying exp. if one is actually in a fire, and as long as loved ones are not in danger, the next thing one will think about is treasured items. Thank-you for a wonderful comment. Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/15/2019 8:22:00 PM
Jennifer, you did such an amazing job here. Wow, you not only mentioned the seven items but you took us RIGHT THERE to the fire. I can't even match this, though I will try to do my "list" hopefully before the contest closes. I bet this could be a first place!!
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/16/2019 1:14:00 AM
Hi Andrea, sweet of you to say so, missed chatting, i'll try and get to soup mail today. Yes, I got really involved in this poem, despite firmen's warnings! Thank you for a lovely comment Andrea. Poetry hugs, Jenny
Date: 2/15/2019 4:42:00 PM
Jennifer, while reading this, I really feared for your safety. I could see clearly (through your descriptions) everything that was happening as well as the significance of those items you had to retrieve. Pulse-pounding suspense, Hon! Wishing you success in the contest, Carolyn
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/16/2019 1:20:00 AM
Thanks Carolyn, coming from you a real compliment.Yes I obviously listed the items before starting my poem, but then as I beat up the pace of the poem, knew how desperately i would want to save all those things if this monstrous fire was really happening in reality! Poetry hugs, Jennifer. (I am known as Jenny to my friends)
Date: 2/15/2019 2:42:00 PM
- I would not risk my life for anything other than humans or animals - The memories we have always with us in the heart, Jennifer :) - A great effort ... you managed it ... and your loved ones are out of danger - A great contribution to this contest, good luck :) - hugs and happy weekend to you my soul sister // Anne-Lise :)
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/16/2019 1:35:00 AM
In real life I might also not risk myself, but wanted to make the poem as realistic as possible and scary, so got involved as the poem progressed. Thanks for a great comment Anne-Lise - I like that you called me soul sister, I think that the exp. we both had has somehow created a bond between us - a relaxing and happy weekend to you also my dear soul sister - poetry hugs, Jenny which I am called often, but Jennifer, if you prefer .
Date: 2/15/2019 9:25:00 AM
Hi Jennifer, a wonderful write from your golden pen. You keep up the suspense as you move through the burning home, collecting your items as you go along. Such strong imagery painted by poetic words. Wishing you well in the contest Jennifer. Have a wonderful Friday. hugs....Mike. XX
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/15/2019 9:40:00 AM
Hi Mike, Thank-you for an awesome comment - I lived through this fire in my mind and the objects I saved are exactly what I would save if true (Please God never) - was just about to visit your page! Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/15/2019 12:50:00 AM
APOLOGIES TO MY FIRST 28 VIEWERS AS ONLY HALF MY POEM WAS VISIBLE, DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS MY MISTAKE OR POETRY SOUPS, BUT COMPLETE POEM SHOWS NOW AND ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL. POETRY HUGS, JENNIFER.
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Date: 2/14/2019 3:24:00 PM
Real imaginative piece Jennifer, one wonders what we would do in a similar situation! You've penned this so well with great imagery, nice rhyme and kept us on our tenterhooks. Poetry hugs, Gordon
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/15/2019 12:57:00 AM
Hi Gordon, Thank-goodness you saw my complete poem - a couple of my poetry soup friends only saw one third of my poem, but fortunately rectified the mistake yesterday evening. Do not know if it was my mistake or poetry soups, but my contest poem was correct! Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/14/2019 1:40:00 PM
Whew, suspenseful poem. Well done ! :)
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/15/2019 12:53:00 AM
Hi Heidi, Thank-you for your soup mail and happy you saw the complete poem and also that the poem held you in suspense, I must have done something right! Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/14/2019 7:13:00 AM
The scene flashed in front of me as I read your poem..you captured well how we value things in life.
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/15/2019 12:41:00 AM
Thank-you for your soupmail and so happy that you were one of the poetry soup viewers who saw the poem complete - something happened towards noon and late afternoon - if my mistake or poetry soups is now irrelevant, poem is now whole again and raging! Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/14/2019 5:14:00 AM
Determined against smoke and fire...and still in control... Hope this is your imagination blazing red...Happy Valentine to you and yours...All the best
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/15/2019 12:45:00 AM
Not a true story thank God Arturo, but placed myself in the position of someone in this situation and did what I would have done it it was real Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/15/2019 12:37:00 AM
Hi Artuto, So it seems that you only read half the poem - but now that you have re-read it, hope it makes a lot more sense - do not know if it was me or poetry soup who made the mistake, but just sorry that my first lot of viewers saw it unfinished. Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
Date: 2/14/2019 2:11:00 AM
Awesome imagery, can see you dashing about retrieving things. It's everyone's worst nightmare, I've got two smoke detectors and two co2 detectors but you never know. Good luck. Tom.
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Jennifer Proxenos
Date: 2/15/2019 12:28:00 AM
Thank-you Tom, you are such a darling, and you quelled my fears that it was only half entered. I hope you enjoyed it more you after you read the complete poem. Poetry hugs, Jennifer.
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