Fire is a basic element, so basic we forget how vital it is. A fire draws people to it for warmth and light, it burns away filth, it cooks.
A few months ago the boys and I were in the backyard, they were playing ball or in the dirt, and I was supposed to be grilling. Instead, I was building a fire in the fire pit. The boys stayed around for a while because I told them they could help, but when the first few attempts to light it failed, they moved on to more active things.
The truth was I just wanted to sit and stare at the burning wood. Fire, especially the solitary flame, is mesmerizing; when the wood burns down, begins to fall apart, the embers are still glowing, still emitting small flames that you can only see if you stare hard.
Solitary, beautiful |
I can't say what I thought about. But the heat danced on my face like the flames on the branches, and as it sizzled and hummed, I smiled at its beautiful simplicity. It's curious something so dangerous can be breathtaking at the same time.
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7 comments:
What a great choice for the F post! Flame is definitely mesmerizing. Sounds like you had a great evening.
In those sorts of situations it's hard to really think about anything at all. You just drink in the atmosphere.
Yay Fire - so important and a great motif. Yay Agatha Christie too - as in things we might also like. I like Agatha Christie.
lovely and poetic post! found you on the a to z challenge and will definitely be back to read more. I am following now (but not in a stalker-ish way or anything...)
feel free to check out my blog too if you have time. I write humor (or at least I pretend to):
http://mothersofbrothersblog.blogspot.com
best,
MOV
I agree. A fire draws us by some primeval instinct. Mesmerizing for sure.
Denise
It's amazing how lost in a flame we can get.
Stopping by via the A-Z Challenge.
http://www.scatteredmusings.net/2012/04/entertaining-your-family/
I can spend hours watching the patterns in the embers. Flames are truly inspiring.
Called in from the A-Z
RJRdaydreamer
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