Dying so slowly, burn the piled embers
Where I remember fire before your ghost
Touched the cold burial within my hearth.
Night snow on mantle, in belly; the hearth
Must fall to light still dark as the embers
Could melt once again my body; your ghost
Is dying within me when sheds your ghost
On skin; cold yet comes of the swollen hearth,
The dying's way with me in the embers,
The embers catch your ghost's gaze in the hearth.
The children gathered around
the crackling fireplace as
Rumple Stein opened his
heavy, leather- bound book.
His voice dropped to a low,
raspy whisper that made the
shadows on the wall seem to
stretch and dance.
"Deep within the Whispering
Woods," he began, "the old
witches brew potions made
of forgotten nightmares."
He leaned forward, his eyes
gleaming in the firelight as
the wind howled outside the
window.
"They command slimy green
goblins that creep into
bedrooms to steal the
laughter of sleeping boys
and girls."
A floorboard creaked in the
hallway, making the children
jump and clutch their
blankets tight.
"But the worst myth of all,"
Rumple Stein hissed, "is the
faceless monster that hides
right under your bed."
He pointed a long, crooked
finger at the youngest boy,
whose eyes were wide with
fright.
"It waits until the room goes
completely black, listening to
the sound of your heartbeat."
With a sudden, loud SLAM of
his book, he smiled and
whispered, "Now, blow out
the candle and go to sleep."
my grandchildren run toward the rock wall
looking for a foothold
ready to climb
we are in a fancy hotel in Utah
They are standing on the mantle of the thirty- foot rock fireplace
Just a fireplace, I tell them, not a climbing wall
they are vastly disappointed
How do you define heaven?
Locked up in a cabin with fireplace.
Party foods on a tray.
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 1st place 2026
the fireplace as it splays
like flu stitched under bone tenderly
embers touch more apart, then staid
one movement now, leaving
flicker so brief on shadowy lines
our last goodbyes
the fireplace as it splays
embers touch more apart, then staid
the will of multiple burns gait
its warmth holds our eyes together
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Winter's hush descends~
a letter pressed to my palm,
ink still warm with love.
The hearth crackles its own song:
tidings of comfort and joy.
Sit and feel welcome
There’s a narration treat
Sip on the Hot Chocolate in warmth
The feeling of Christmas as set in
Words to celebrate
Hearts of love to embrace
A Poet writes
It’s the atmosphere of the moment
Christmas trees lit
Decoration being a hit
Ho scale Baltimore and Ohio maneuver all around
Time after time
The memory of Christmas visualized in my mind
Grandma with the baking and cooking
Christmas cards all hung around the living room
A place called home
Reflecting on the love of friends and family together
Laughter, joy and certainly happiness
Upon any Christmas night
Carol’s sing along
Christmas is almost near
The North Star guidance
Poet joy
Desire full of inspiration
Heart of Gold
Endure behold
The night skies showing promise
Goodwill and Peace
Christmas of winter love
Togetherness to think of.
Come in out of the cold, my pretty
Winter's approaching with its bitter wind
Frost in no time will cover the city
You'll be chilled to the bone and blue skinned
Come in out of the cold, my pretty
I'll gather wood for the fireplace
I love you and it would be a pity
Not to offer you at least an embrace
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Rhythm and blues tonight delight
The mood elevated intensely swag and smooth
Perfection is fireplace and wine
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Lazy sunday afternoon just relaxing
Being together stirs feelings of blissful harmony
Let's linger by the fireplace
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 1st place 2025
Fall colours set the mood
the winding road leads home to you
~ waiting by the cozy fireplace
Wordku: 5-7-5 words
AP: 2nd place 2025
At Christmas, by the fire's gentle glow,
The secrets shared, a whispered, silent flow.
My nephews, bright, with eyes so full of glee,
And my sweet niece, a sight for all to see.
The firelight dances on their youthful faces,
As sticky marshmallows leave their sticky traces.
The scent of chocolate, warm and sweet and deep,
A tapestry of memories to keep.
We toast our smores, a sticky, sweet delight,
As secrets bloom in the warm, festive light.
Of wishes whispered to the falling snow,
And dreams that only Christmas can bestow.
The world outside is sleeping, hushed and white,
But here, within, the fire burns so bright.
And in this haven, safe and warm and low,
The seeds of future secrets start to grow.
So let the embers flicker, red and gold,
As tales of wonder, young and new, unfold.
For in this moment, simple, pure, and true,
A family's bond is born anew.
together huddled by the fireplace
AP: Honorable Mention 2025
Hot and not lukewarm
Steamy and electrifying
All the right moves and places
Totally smooth
Angles covered
The theme would be “LOVE ON FIRE”
Here and there leading to everywhere
Passion with its own temperature set
Beyond in able
Journey into ecstasy
Propelling through the love portal
Into new heights
Acceleration with no stop
No quinch of thirst just breathless
Volume just right
Loving words even hotter
Fulfilled journey
Mission Control over and out
Extinguished not needed
Proven right
Temperature back to normal
Relaxed and delight
Red
brick hearth
casts love’s spark
lush Yuletide “flames”
glow
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