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Incinerated Dreams
| Open Poetry #3 |
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Incinerated Dreams |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
Urgent phone calls come at the end of night. Frantic words wash away the dregs of sleep. The sky glows with flame in the pre-dawn light. Into the heart despair does quickly creep. I arrive to see a smouldering shell. Broken windows pour forth dark smoke and steam. The house seems a blackened horror from hell. I've entered a nightmarish, waking dream. My sister's family stands huddled next door. Their faces hold the crushing weight of shock. They escaped with only the clothes they wore. Of what they had left I would now take stock. By the back door do I enter the wreck. The overpowering smoke makes me gag. For anything left untouched I do check. Against the twisted doorframe do I sag. The smoke has killed the cat in the back hall. Unburned, she had tried to escape the heat. Flame stripped paper and paint from each wall. The immolation was nearly complete. Fire had ate holes in the floor clean through. The refrigerator, still it does work. Nintendo and stereo were fused too. Sifting from the walls is a sooty murk. Hamsters and cage are melted together. The iguana is a carbonized hulk. The walls are smelling of rancid leather. Memories of what it once was do skulk. Living room is where the flashpoint did peak. Each piece of furniture immolated. Of what I saw, to the kids will not speak. Their life before has incinerated. I tell my sister of all that I saw. All we can salvage is some of her clothes. At her I can see grief begin to gnaw. Haunted eyes tell of the loss she knows. Walls were covered with each child's success. There was artwork and awards from their school. Every photo of theirs she did possess. After losing it all she feels a fool. Once again though she is back on her feet. The fire was set by her youngest son. His attention disorder she will beat. Her most incessant battles have been won. ©1999 DreamEvil ------------------ Nothing is worse than sorrow, except perhaps disdain. I'll be myself tomorrow, tonight I'll feel the pain. DreamEvil© |
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| © Copyright 1999 DreamEvil - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Systematic Decay Senior Member
since 1999-09-15
Posts 1301That place with padded walls and funny people in white......... |
A terrible tale....how much it must hurt to lose everything, and especially when your own child sets the blaze.... ------------------ "Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage." -Billy Corgan- |
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Watcher666 Senior Member
since 1999-10-13
Posts 1606 |
What a painful memory for you to carry.A sad and moving tale,you have told it well. ------------------ Illusion...what we see and what we do...it's all up to you. |
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suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
Sad story well told! |
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RainbowGirl Member Elite
since 1999-07-31
Posts 3023United Kingdom |
Unforunately, for me you told this too well, I can't get the images out of my head..  HUGS ------------------ You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. |
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Denise
Moderator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-08-22
Posts 22648 |
Very very painful and skillfully rendered. When people go through tragedies like this the biggest heartache I believe must be the loss of the irreplaceable things like photos, drawings and things like that. Not to mention the poor pets. How sad.  ------------------ Denise |
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DreamEvil Member Elite
since 1999-06-22
Posts 2396 |
'Twas a unique experience indeed and one I have no wish to repeat again. ------------------ Now and forever, my heart hears ~one voice~. DreamEvil© |
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Julie Jordan Scott Member
since 1999-09-19
Posts 146Bakersfield, CA USA |
Intense, intriguing, heartbreaking, emotional.....what a nightmare to live....what grief, what emptiness, what a memory. ------------------ Julie Jordan Scott is a Freelance Writer and Public Speaker, but her favorite role is that of Mommy! Visit her website at http://www.5passions.com |
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caroline Senior Member
since 1999-08-16
Posts 1218http://members.xoom.com/belladona123/index.htm |
How heartbreaking...an excellent telling of this story, Dream. My worst fear is to go through this nightmare. My heart goes out to your sister and her family. Such loss... ------------------ "Tread softly, for I have spread my dreams under your feet"~~William Butler Yeats |
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Lucie Senior Member
since 1999-06-20
Posts 1077Houston |
Such a sad poem I feel for sorry for your sister, but also the writer, having to bring such memories back to the surface is difficult. |
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JennyLee Senior Member
since 1999-09-01
Posts 1461Northwestern, NJ. |
You describe so well such a horrific event! Bless You ! Jenny |
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hoot_owl_rn Member Patricius
since 1999-07-05
Posts 10750Glen Hope, PA USA |
WOw, Dream, this was so vivd I could see it all, you told this well. |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Wow brother...of all the dark poetry you've written, I fear this is the one that touched me heart the most. Mind you, I feel for your sister's loss, but the sad story of those helpless animals grips my heart and begs tears from my eyes. Well told tale of sorrow my friend. |
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