Ember (possibly mature)

[miharu]

I swore this ember would be my last,
My mantra of the most recent while.
I have lighters for digits
With flint fingertips carved by your words. 
My veins are filled with ethanol
And butane-
One fire sparks the other,
One fire sparks another.

I met you when I was a child in woman's skin,
Playing dress up with my own appendages. 
You settled me in to your sashay,
Taught me to be a puppet without strings, 
Rocked me while moving my lips to speak your moans. 

I sewed you clothes and spun thread out from my lips.
You called me a spider, but I was building you a home
While you were teaching me to remember your hands,
Knives used to etched out my fingernails.

I saw silk ashes two months ago, little piles of fine gray dust,
And found you setting embers to the foundations of our home. 
I skittered away, because
You taught me how to move
But were no longer showing me where to go. 

The smell of smoke reminds me of you.
Each day I spark up a small memory,
Trying to chip off the flint memoirs you have given. 
I hope to char myself deeply enough
To never spin silk again.

[tangerinepie]

This was an adventure, incredibly inventive with the first stanza setting the stage for powerful story telling.It is especially succinct in allowing the reader to study each line with wonder..Adored this poem..Tangie..

[Dew]

all day long it seems we are either clearing ash off our mistakes or setting new little fires to our future. But we are never worthless while we can learn and be new...just some inspirations I pulled from your words...lovely - dew

[everhopeful]

I was really captured by the lighter/finger metaphor in the opening, so the return to it in the conclusion was perfect as it helped me to understand the significance of the flint reference and how it symbolised experiences forming a memory that was incredibly difficult to chip away. It was also a strong contrast to the more delicate images of spinning a web, and the way you brought together the speaker's seemingly gentle innocence against something much firmer gave me a feeling akin to cruelty, abuse and bullying.
This is a very profound piece penned with subtlety and skill.

[ladymaybebaby]

I'm so glad you are back, not just because I love having you around... but I've missed your writing so very much! I totally love this piece! The sustained metaphor is just spot on! From the first line of promising yourself that
'this ember would be your last' until the end when the speaker is still having to spark up a small memory each day it reminds me so much of the lies we tell ourselves and then what we continue to do to make it through the rough times or to deal with the pain and the memories. Excellent piece, I just love this one!

-R
xoxo

[ladymaybebaby]

So glad to see this in the spotlight! I just love this piece... a well deserved honor! Congratulations on the spotlight pick of the week it is much deserved!

-R
xoxo

[trell11]

Nice writing. I interpreted this poem as a love affair with smoking and your ability to give it up. Has so many different meanings and metaphors I just gravitated to this one. My wife smokes and I can't stand it. I wrote a poem called tobacco kisses to show my disdain for such bad habits. Thanks for sharing this wonderful piece with me my friend. Look forward to reading more of your works and congratulations on the spotlight.

[jsol]

Miharu, a true poets poets. I feel like I can relate to your writing process so well. I hang on every word, they seem to be reflections of my poetic thoughts, ideas that would brighten if i were in your place and time and everything that is so uniquely you. You are wonderful and I thank you. If there were anyone that I could call that one I read as a way into myself, it would be you. I love Spence. Ane everhopeful is the undisputed champion of vision here but you are my little spark, infinite in the dark parts of a poet's creation. I don't want to pull your poem apart as that is not what I feel the point of your writing is, it is visceral and whatever flows from that is a bonus like stolen candy in a child's hands. Melted chocolate pockets and candy bars eaten in one bite. Thank you.

[jwesley]

All the above, my friend --- and just an awesome piece.

every word perfectly placed.

So glad it's in the Spotlight!

jimmy

[inflames]

Wow, what a heartbreaking write... The end seems so solemn, so final... I adore it. Wonderful write. Congrats on your spotlight!

[musie]

Hi miharu~If I remember correctly this was initially under the Tragedy Board, and I sure thought I had commented on it then....I truly thought it was exceptional what with the metaphor and the image's that I felt read more powerfully regarding that of a child that had been abused for year's..as I felt strong emotion's coming from this in that aspect, I may be way off base, but in any case, there is not doubt as to why this piece was chosen for the Spotlight....CONGRATULATIONS!

[everhopeful]

Upon re-reading this excellent piece I was even more struck by the significance of the ending, seeing a speaker willing to endure pain in the here and now in order to chip away at a memory of the past. I think that expression has a big impact, especially in a poem voiced with such a consistently understated tone, with content that shows a strong feeling of trauma throughout.
Congratulations on the spotlight!

[Ladywildalice]

Excellent write and well worthy of the Spotlight. Congratulation, much enjoyed and very enviable.

[kavi911]

The second and last stanzas (not to take away from the whole piece)... Just... Wow.