Every month, I post one of my poems (paired with one of my pictures), sharing its origin and some of its essence. Here is my Poem & Pic of the Month for February 2015:
Fire
by Patrick Bishop
The fire rises
Always rising, seeking its highest point
Higher, always higher
A flickering flame
A moment in time
Flashing upward like a dance with now
Always rising
The flame doesn't hesitate and wonder,
or doubt and fret,
"Should I go higher?!"
No. It flashes and strikes out.
Now. Now. Now... always now.
Taking whatever the moment gives
Even as it fades
There is no boasting of past flames
Or regrets of lost heights
Always ready to dance with now
And take the highest point
The moment gives
Background
This is the third poem I wrote when I started writing in the spring of 2013. I was sitting in our new living room by myself watching the fire. As I watched the flames, I was noticing how high they go and contemplating this phenomenon. It really is a pretty amazing thing when you simply sit and notice. Flames go as high as they can... always.
The Picture
Taken from the Grand Haven pier in 2008. It's not often I think of the sun as fire, but of course, it is.
© 2015 by Patrick Bishop; all rights reserved.