AFTER THE FIRE

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"Anaphora is a literary term for the practice of repeating certain words or phrases at the beginning of multiple clauses or, in the case of a poem, multiple lines. The phrase “A time to,” as used in the third Chapter of Ecclesiastes, is a good example of anaphora." Today's prompt is to find a phrase and stick with it, see how far you can take it. There will now be a suitable break while I mull over what phrase to use. 

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Well, that was a long break. It's now after eleven. I've been here and there, most recently at a wonderful poetry reading by Tom Wayman and Bruce Rice. But right now, it's poem time!


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what if the reason ... nope

before the red tide ... nope


After the Fire

after the fire was everything, everything
after the fire came mongrels, staggering
after the fire we sketched pictures in scorched earth
after the fire swallows mourned their immolated nests
after the fire you sang and sang and sang and sang
after the fire the wee ones hunkered down
after the fire sand poured like salt between our toes 
after the fire a stone cracked and would not be comforted
after the fire cotton candy air tasted of ambrosia
after the fire memories opaque as isinglass swaggered in the smoke
after the fire you waited for me at the corner 
after the fire I didn't come to bed because I had to write a poem
after the fire was nothing 

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