Poems from the Edge of the Continent

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Snow and Ash

February 10, 2008 · 5 Comments

Late afternoon in winter
snow laying in the eddies
in which it fell
No one is going anywhere,
because the light’s failing
turns us back -
back on ourselves
these empty rooms, this cold hearth
where we might kneel
and blow gently into the ash
that may rise and fall and sail up
into the dark of the chimney
while below, under the charred log
and the iron grate,
the sole remaining ember lays buried
waiting for breath.

Categories: American Contemporary Poetry · Life's Mysteries · Poems · Poetry · Poets · Sufi · Sufism
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5 responses so far ↓

  • floots // February 10, 2008 at 11:18 am

    thanks for visiting and giving me the chance to read your work
    i really like this
    especially the sadness and optimism combined in that final image

  • Akash // February 10, 2008 at 11:59 am

    Dear Patricia ,

    Yesterday , when i replied your comment in my blog , I held myself from saying that I was eagerly
    waiting for your next poem . I didn’t say it because
    poem should take it’s natural gestation period to be born .
    I simply love this poem , Patricia .
    I have the irresistible urge to breathe life into
    the last ember there .
    I want to see the flames against the backdrop of
    listless snow .
    It is an image that will remain with me for a long time .

    Akash

  • Irving // February 10, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    A perfect February poem, with the promise of Spring to come. Like the ember waiting for love to breathe it to life, I love it :)

    Ya Haqq!

  • mothreed // February 16, 2008 at 12:52 pm

    “the sole remaining ember lays buried / waiting for breath”. Wow, how many times have I felt like that.. Excellently written.

  • ellaella // February 18, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    Oh, I like this very much!

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