Ignition

A clever little tale of revenge

Ignition

The glass that you shattered like it didn’t matter
Lies scattered about on the floor
The truth that you bury in your cemetery
Keeps mourners lined up at your door

All in distress you call your mistress
For keys and a lock to misuse
Your wife is alone as she waits in your home
To hear out your latest excuse

Languid and lean my well-planned machine
Strikes words that are common and coarse
I in my anger and blind to the danger
Choose action instead of remorse

A wisp of smoke rising it isn’t surprising
I stack up some lessons to learn
Then make my decisions and mark my incisions
And wait for the west wind to turn

I bless you with taper and curse you with paper
I toast you with diesel and sherry
I strike up a match and open the hatch
Tis better to burn than to marry

-Zoe Richardson (2023)

Author's Note

No actual spouses were harmed in the writing of this poem. Or aftewards.

Reviews

[Dave]

I think you handled this betrayal of love beautifully. Certainly, your telling of it was.
Take care - Dave

[1809 Black Plague Decem..]

Oh, wow, Zoe, this one just hits the noddles. LOL
Don't know which is the fiend and which is the galant.
But I love the love triangle.
I like the part of the corpse,
my interpretation is that it's for loving till the end,
and i love the fancy of marriage, great poem-prose, love it, love it, ----Maynard

[Arundass TP]

Beautiful poem. Enjoyed reading 👍

[Zoe Richardson]

Aww! Aren't you sweet? Thank you so much for your praise. And for your visit!

[Chris Shaw]

Sadly an age old tale my Dad warned me about as a twenty year old. He was right. Wonderful write Zoe. Witty and so well crafted. You get your point across with precision sharpness.

Chris

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you, dear Chris. I like to craft poems with subtle implications that say so much more than blunt honesty. Which is interesting because my prose is nothing but blunt honesty. I would speak solely in rhyme, but people would pummel me with luncheon meat.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

Ouch! Wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of this match.
You curse the subject with razor sharp poetry.

Hello!
Ilike the diesel and sherry.
j.

[Zoe Richardson]

Thank you! That was my favorite part, too. Rest easy, dear friend. The only conflagrations existed in my imagination. I prefer to approach conflict in life head-on!

[Vol]

Zoe,
What a great write! I especially love the subtle but strong rhythm... And So much wisdom carried on teh shoulders of humor.
Vol

[Zoe Richardson]

You are so kind! I love it when I can be subtle, wise, and humorous at the same time. In conversation I can only be one at a time!

[Vol]

Zoe,
Not me... My ADD is capable of grandiose multi-tasking...

[Zoe Richardson]

Alas! I am not blessed with that particular set of skills. My bipolar disorder only allows one of two possibilities. But you never know which one you will get!

[W. Barrett Munn]

I guess you were a great match, but what happened to burning desire?

Winston

[Zoe Richardson]

The burning desire packed up and moved to Nashville right about the time the ring went on the finger. I as a great match during courtship. After the wedding I was stubborn, difficult, and couldn't do anything right. According to them, at least. They were wrong of course. I may be stubborn and difficult but my poetry is spot on!

[John the Baptist]

Thanks for the note. Relieved that no one actually got toasted. Meter and rhyme here were both excellent. Still, I wonder how much of the work is autobiographical. Ironic how that most sacred of human relationships, marriage, can often end up breeding intense hatred.

[Zoe Richardson]

It is autobigraphical in some aspects. I did want to set fire to some of his belongings. In my case marriage did not breed intense hatred so much as it bred abuse and intense disillusionment. It is not in me to hate (except broccoli), or to harm. But I can write some intense revenge poetry!

[Matthew Kult]

No actual spouses were not harmed. What is the fun in that? Great read and write. Cheaters get what they get even if it's flames.

With love,

Matthew

[Zoe Richardson]

Ikr? There should have been some kind of retribution. At least I'm not Carrie Underwood or Miranda Lambert. He would have been a literal hot mess!

[FGFRANKLIN]

Hahahaha I'm having visual scenes of Farah Fawcett in "The Burning Bed" while Martina McBride is singing "Independence Day". Serves the cheater right although I'd probably just walk away from infidelity. Good read.

[Zoe Richardson]

It does have that country song kind of revenge, doesn't it? You're a stronger person than I am. I didn't walk away or burn anything. I stayed and tried to prove my love, loyalty and devotion as well as my worthiness. I made a commitment before God. I refused to be the one to renig on it. Plus I really loved the poor sod. Oh well, you live and learn and avoid jail by writing out your anger!