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...

[Mister T.]

Very simple, but it contains a very strong message. That's actually all I have to say about it. I enjoyed reading it :)

[A.H.]

Thanks for dropping by, Mister T.
Appreciate, sharing your thoughts on this one :)

[barleygirl]

This is well-written & specific & visual -- all things I love to see in a poem. Most of all, I love the on-going analogy . . . how sometimes we meet a person in life that lights us on fire, but in so doing, it can mean the end of something precious . . . the unavoidable sacrifices of life. This is a very original & interesting way to make your reader ponder such trade-offs in life.

[A.H.]

I like the way you put it. Well! yeah .. that's so true.
I'm glad to know you found this one interesting.
Thanks for giving this one a read and the review :)

[dipanita naik]

With simple words and inspiring message.

[A.H.]

Thank you Dipanita, for stopping by and sharing your thoughts :)

[Érenn]

I really love this one. Can't help but feel this one being a lot more philosophical than your other writes that I have read till now. It's really well penned poem. How one goes to the lengths and the sacrifices one goes through for another or for oneself. Ensuring that the latter is able to live life to the fullest or the former himself goes through changes beneficial to the self and inspires others to follow suit. Honestly that kind of will and spirit of self-sacrifice for the sake of others or for oneself is rare in the present era. People should at least learn to make compromises even if they can't aim for self sacrifice. It's a thought provoking write. I like it much ^^ Thank you for sharing ^^

[A.H.]

I'm glad to hear your views on this write, Errenn.

Yeah, my writes do have a word of wisdom here or there. But, I truly, try to reflect upon life itself, as we live it. It's a journey and we definitely have a purpose in it :)
While penning this write, I looked around and saw something unique in 'Matchstick' and that inspired me to come up with this write. The uniqueness was, it's selfless in in it's sense of duty and it's purpose. Not once, can it stray away from it, since all it knows is to be 'lit' and be 'burnt' to ashes, providing light. Now, if it strays away from it's purpose, it 'll cease to render any meaning to itself. So in the same light, we as humans, if we stray ourselves from our purpose, we would cease to exist, for we would mean nothing at all in this world.

Thanks for stopping by, Errenn.

[Érenn]

Your welcome ^^

[Samuel Dickens]

As I understand it, one thing has had to expend itself in order to give rise to another. The question then may be, "was it worth it?" Some deep thoughts here.

[A.H.]

Only when we endure, make sacrifices, do good to others and be kind, we better ourselves in the process. Metamorphosis is a way of nature, if we let it happen and for right reasons, we may find our true self one day. IMO, I would find this a worthwhile exercise :)
Thanks Sam, for taking out time to share your thoughts on this one. Appreciate it !

[Woody]

I like the message. burning to light the path of others. the ultimate sacrifice. grandiose. you wouldn't find such a thing in this time an' age. only one person comes to mind. your mother.

good one Abhilash!!!

[A.H.]

Thanks Woody, for stopping by...
Perfect, that's exactly the message I was trying to convey through the poem.
And yes, *in this time 'n age', it's a rarity.
If I may, this write was penned to inspire/reflect on how we could better ourselves, light the path of others and our very own..
Glad to know, you liked the write :)

[Solar]

I like the way you have headed the verses with 'I' like a matchstick, its lighting up and burning out - in the glory of a flame. A sacrifice to light up the candle fame/flame.

[A.H.]

Thanks so much for noticing, Solar!
This poem is all about, belief, dogged determination, a desire to better oneself through sacrifices and be an instrument of hope/inspiration to others. Matchstick and Candle are my poetic subjects in play. Thanks again, for the read :)