Matchstick

I

talk of a Matchstick

that lent fire 

to my candle.

It had 

a fierce head

of gunpowder

with a slender tail

of ageing wood.

It pondered

all the while

and wished

for a name.

It dreamt 

all long

and desired

to taste fame.

And,

one fine day,

I

came along

and set it

on flames

to light

my candle.

wax dripped

as the candle blazed.

and, the Matchstick,

through its last rites, 

still burnt all in glow

for its pride.

I 

held its ash

in bare hands

and smelled

its sacrifice.

It had

brought light 

to my world

and had 

given life

to my candle.

It had 

held its head high

to burn in spurt

for a name,

and to douse out

with a sparkle

to taste the fame..

- AH 10/07/2007

Reviews

[Marie]

Wow! A very interesting and unusual but extremely poetic view of a matchstick giving its life in order to light the candle! Most people are not sensitive enough, even poets, to note the sacrifice made by the matchstick which is created to give light to another inanimate object so that it may glow and then, to be no more. Superbly penned poem, Abhi and excellently expressed and depicted. Thank you for sharing...

[A.H.]

Thank you Marie for the wonderful review. I'm glad you liked the theme of the poem. While penning this write, I was reflecting upon life itself, as we live it. I was looking for our purpose in life. Its a question I seek always. I saw something unique about 'Matchstick', it's selfless and lights up itself to be useful for others and that inspired me to come up with this write. Thanks so much for reading and sharing thoughts on it. So grateful.

[Marie]

You are a beautiful sensitive soul, dear Abhi and a magician with words. A wonderful combination for the amazing poetic skills you are gifted with. Love your poetry always! Thank you for writing and thank you for sharing...

[A.H.]

I am honored and grateful for those kind words. Thank you so much, friend. Love reading your poetry too, have a great day, Marie!

[Marie]

Thank you for your very kind words, Abhi! I too, wish you a very lovely, blessed and joyful day too. Enjoy, dear friend...

[Arundass TP]

A classic creation. Poem flows evenly like a music. Excellent

[A.H.]

Glad to hear your thoughts. Thank you much, dear friend TP.

[Arundass TP]

Welcome friend 😊

[Kelly Scheppers]

We must burn brightly in this life. Just like the flame of a matchstick. Its our distinguishing right to leave an impression behind. An eternal light.

[A.H.]

that's a wonderful take, Kelly. Agree, totally! Thanks for your visit, appreciate this review.

[Kelly Scheppers]

My pleasure.

[Thomas W Case]

Tremendous imagery. Powerful work.

[A.H.]

Thank you Thomas.

[Martiya Daman]

This poem is about a matchstick that wanted to be famous. It had a fiery head and a tiny wooden body. It shows that one day, you lit it to light a candle. It burned bright, happy to be useful, but then it turned to ash. It gave everything for a moment of glory. A great penned poem Abhi, thanks for sharing a masterpiece and keep going.

-Martiya

[A.H.]

Thank you Martiya for your wonderful thoughts and this review. Appreciate it!

[Martiya Daman]

My pleasure! No need to thank me, I just read others to improve myself and appreciate them :)

[Betty Hermelee]

In your poem the matchstick comes to life… it also enables the light to come to life, the candle carries on with flame and heat as the matchstick turns to ash… yet the candle now has a life…this could well be a metaphor for life and ultimate death of us all…
Thank you for sharing
Warmly
B🌷🌷

[A.H.]

Thank you Betty for this thoughtful review on the write.

[Betty Hermelee]

You are very welcome!
Warmly, B

[Stella Armour]

I love personalizing everyday things , this is great.
Who but a poet could give life to a matchstick ...

Wonderful!

Stella

[A.H.]

Thank you for this wonderful review, Stella. Appreciate it.

[Stella Armour]

when i first started writing i wrote a short piece about a cigarette lighter and personalized it just like you have the matchstick ... i remembered it as i read this clever piece today ...
Stella

[A.H.]

ah! very nice.. I would love to read that, that's interesting. please share if you get a chance.

[Stella Armour]

will do soon, but it was one of my first pieces 2008 so a bit rough around the edges lol ..

[A.H.]

sure thing. look forward to reading it, when it's ready :)

[Fran Marie]

what a unique and
lovely piece to read
A simple little
matchstick yet holds
the power to give
light and glow to
let another shine
brighter as with
people willing to
sacrifice for a
higher purpose
of another.

I'd say this spent
matchstick can't
be matched

Nice Work;

[A.H.]

Thank you for reading and reviewing this write Fran. I'm glad to hear your words and thoughts, Matchstick may be insignificant by itself but it can bring life to the world through its purpose, sacrifice and light. In life, we all have a purpose I believe. To live, to burn bright and be an agent of change for others to achieve their purpose as well :)

[Chris Shaw]

Enjoyed this read about sacrifice and thought about some who had done just that. Burned brightly and died young. Nicely written with good description Abhi.

Chris

[A.H.]

very sorry to hear Chris .. someone who passed away young, my condolences. May they rest in peace.
Thank you for visiting this write and sharing your words on this writing. Appreciate it, very!

[duff]

I really like this. My own vision is driving and thinking about all possibilities. It's skillfully written.

[A.H.]

Thank you very much Duff. I'm glad you read this write and shared your thoughts, I value that it provoked thoughts/possibilities.