WELCOME TO THE FURNACE

07 17 14

Yellow flecks of flaming dust
sew their last rites into
popcorn crackles searing
thirsty air's failed distance

The arrival of the true you
frames a consolation
of swan song scenery
for the expendable
caravan of cinders
fated for erasure
in a sudden cough
like a poor man's firework

Choirs of finches followed
and scored your promenade
from the solar facsimile of fire
to the proximity of genuine
incineration

They fall into flame-induced pitch
stubborn to betray their purpose
like the Titanic's entertainment

The remnants of the fictional you
singe and dissipate in the heat
with your blanket definition
of the most docile creatures

They were all animals to you
beneath the sun's poesy-polished lens

But the basement assured
a shedding in the ashen hub
of elemental witnesses

Animal equality was stripped down
to a shortlist of horned
territorial crusaders

Physicality usurped
the guidelines of reason

Real animals break a sweat
like real men wear black

Now you take a stand
in the fire's seething court of coal
till the salt veil trickles
down your face and makes
a bed of pearls on your lips

You can taste epiphany
as you undo the cage
armed with a steel whip
to pet the bitter ghost
of nature ravaged

Shuffling the coals until
you draw a mirror in the melting chaos
a theory of precipitation whispers
I can treat you better

But eager for the testing
of your belief that
phoenixes are pets of the meek
you commence in the open simmer
of an angel's martyrdom
like a libidinous Joan Of Arc

Author's Note

Reviews

[Kleio13]

"Real animals break a sweat
like real men wear black" THESE WORDS ARE GENIOUS!!! This poem cut straight to the heart. and I`m listening to Snake River Conspiracy`s love song. It`s like your`e saying we are mechanical animals always fighting the good fight for survival, for meekness, for an eternity that we are looking for that not many people believe in. It`s almost as if humanity should learn this lesson. That eternity is with us and we should value change for the greater good instead of being angry all of the time. This poem is amazing. Who was in your head when lyou wrote this ?

[kublakhan27]

Haha They might be the most popular lines I've ever offered to the site, I think everybody has quoted them in their comments ;) It's hard for me to say what I was thinking when I wrote this, there were so many things swirling around in my head, but it's been a true joy to see that everyone has had their own interpretations of it, including ones I never thought of...I did write it in the hope of piling on as many layers as possible, but very rarely do all of those layers (and more) get noticed...this poem has become dear to me for that reason...I haven't mentioned this explicitly to anyone else, but I think I had the duality of the human condition in mind, how we want to be good people and yet we're constantly fighting off the urge to lose our mind and go bat-crazy on other people haha But clearly there's so much more to this piece than that...so glad you enjoyed and related to this one my friend :) A fitting song as well haha

[Kleio13]

Haha glad you can relate

[Lyn Anderson]

Wow, this is by far, of your serious, non-sex innuendo poems, MY FAVE. This is full of rich textures and imagery, and just wonderful metaphors leaving my mind trying to grasp which one is the best.

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much KL, I'm glad this one resonated with you, it was not done overnight. that's for sure.

[Lyn Anderson]

I admire a person who can write and rewrite and work a poem. I am a slap em up kind of gal. Once I had Delmar Cooper give me suggestions and he was right, but it took me months to go back and change it. Usually it's up, first edit, for better or for worse, and I can't seem to return after I have written it.

[Corset]

I always felt that a man isn't governed by the color of shirt he wears, one of the most dynamic men I have ever had the opportunity to work for wore a pick shirt regularly and he wasn't gay at all, he was just very confident in his own masculinity, he constructed commercial buildings, and stood with his feet in the penguin position as if he owned the world. As does this poem btw, loved that line also about sweating animals, (they drool, sweat through their mouths) which made that line particularly brilliant.

[kublakhan27]

Thank you Corset...I also have a straight friend whose favourite colour is pink...it's hard to explain that line...I've heard it several times though...needless to say I don't agree with it, so that was probably just my cynicism peeking into the piece haha So glad you enjoyed it.

[Corset]

yes I meant to say pink :) ty

[Corset]

make me think of the men in black- (the movie)

[kublakhan27]

Haha A good point, I didn't think of that.

[AprilRN1210]

oh wow.. There are so many layers here.. I have to say this one is my new favorite of yours.. This felt like an evolving story with some definite heat sprinkled in there... I would have to say that whoever thinks phoenixes are pets for the meek, hasn't come across the right one yet... Once you rise from those painful ashes and burdened memories, you are like anything else that is put through the fire--sharper and stronger, more deadly...

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much my friend...this one was frankly a pain in the a*s to write haha It took me most of the week to get it where it is here so I'm glad you consider it a favourite :) I was hoping for layers so I'm glad that that came through as well...of course there is the one fairly obvious theme but even that one is filtered through a metaphor haha So glad you enjoyed this one April :)

[AprilRN1210]

You're welcome... I did enjoy it and notice something new every time I read.. I can see the thought and care that went into this.. :)

[Lydia Shutter]

"Real animals break a sweat
like real men wear black" Those two lines drew me in, Steve.....they are at the epicenter of your thoughts in this one. Who is real and who is an alien? Who is "normal"? The staccatto lines say just enough to get the gears of my mind turning...and they mesh just right with your meaning. There is a bit of sensual innuendo flowing through this as well...."till the salt veil trickles down your face and makes
a bed of pearls on your lips " Not saying a word, not a syllable! :) Let me just close here by saying, YOU ROCK...and anyone who does not take the time to get lost in the enchantment of your words is missing out on a lot....that is all! Lydi**

[kublakhan27]

You've brought a huge smile to my face with your review my friend...I'm so glad that this one resonated so deeply with you...I think those lines are a cornerstone of this one as well...this one didn't get written overnight, and was not without its frustrations, I can tell you that ;) There is an undercurrent of sensuality, no doubt about that, but I tried to work as many layers into it as possible...thanks so much for the support Lydi, it means the world :)

[J. K. Beach]

By way of introduction, I'm friends with the two lovely broads who got here below me (hmm...that didn't sound quite right). Anyway... I love the controlled burn here, though I'm afraid I can't offer much in the way of alternate interpretations since mine was painted on with the melted lipstick of Frieda's and Anče's reviews.

There are a whole slew of vivid lines here, and even though the girls have already claimed many of the best ones, I must say that the 'court of coal' and 'epiphany' stanzas are my favorites, not because of the action, but because your words are so colorfully written they transcend the action--make it more real--and blend it in with the rest of the piece.

The gestalt of the work is definitely more than just the sum of parts. From start to finish it is a long hot buffet of sensual delight where one visit is not enough. Our appetites rise from the ashes of the meal desiring to be fed over and over again. Brilliant Work!

[kublakhan27]

Thanks so much for the kind and insightful review JK, it means a lot...they are dear friends of mine as well, and I draw a great deal of inspiration from them as well...they also prop me up when my confidence is low, which is a full-time job really haha The sensuality element is certainly at the forefront, but I tried to work layers into it as well...I worried that it got away from me in the latter stanzas when I finished it, but the kind reviews have eased my mind...so glad you enjoyed it :)

[willweb]

Kublkhan, this was great. I feel like I have been on a roller coaster at a zoo for some reason. Up and down, twisting and turning this poem took me and the sights along the way were wonderful. I really enjoyed this today.

[kublakhan27]

So glad you enjoyed it will...this one took the better part of the week to get it to the finished article, and it was not without its frustrations haha I really wanted to work as many layers into it as possible, and I'm glad to know that I was able to appeal to the imagination with it...many thanks as always.

[Kayleigh]

Kubklakhan, this is very good and wordy too. It took me several reads to fully understand the power of this yet. I think you may be a helluva lot smarter than me when it comes to poetry. :)) This was very good. I also think, I finally got the full meaning -- I'll pretend I do anyway.

[kublakhan27]

Haha Well I've been doing it for almost two decades so I'd say I'm hardly a natural :) There are lots of layers in this piece so I'm sure you picked up on many of them...so glad you enjoyed it Kayleigh, thanks so much :)

[Matching Socks]

Ok hot stuff...
This poem rocks, so many great lines.

Real animals break a sweat, God that has such a charged sexual undercurrent (by design?)
Must be because things sure as "hell" got hot in this poem.

Seems like that is where you transported us by way of fire:

Animal equality was stripped down
to a shortlist of horned
territorial crusaders


( little devils? )

Enjoyed this one. :-)

[kublakhan27]

Haha Glad you enjoyed it my friend...it took me almost three days to put this one together, and to say it was a labour of love is a massive understatement ;P The deeper I got into it, the more prevalent the sexual element became, but I hope that I've left enough room for metaphors here...I really wanted to do an allegory-type piece so I'm interested to see if any other interpretations pop up...but of course, the element of sexuality and seduction are pretty strong...thank you Ance :)

[Matching Socks]

I thought so too but I've been known to be wrong and seriously offend in my innocent reviews. :-)read moreI thought so too but I've been known to be wrong and seriously offend in my innocent reviews. :-)
I need to just paste a disclaimer or something at the end of each one maybe, begging forgiveness in advance and totally separating myself from accepting any responsibility for my remarks.

:-)

Or maybe just roll with the punches...

[kublakhan27]

Haha No need for any of that my friend, I love your reviews, and you've practically nailed every piece you've reviewed so far...you know where I'm coming from much of the time which is saying something ;)

[Matching Socks]

Yeah, that we're both REALLY good looking and conceited.
Ok, back to work now.

Btw - cold poem... My old boss was my muse. She was the ice queen, cold b***h.
Still is. :-)

[kublakhan27]

Haha Oh I've had a few of those muses along the way :)

[Frieda P]

We are not amused, had an entire review written out and lost it to the effin' quirks of the cafe!

Basically what I said, but it was much better the first time...Slow simmer within your words with a few blasts of heat splattered, and of course genius Dali sprinkled throughout...real men wear black, still stuck on that line, I don't know why...it's such a Benji statement I guess ;) So many grand lines I don't know where to begin, suffice to say your brilliance shines through in every way possible.....got an extra log for the fire, there's something happening alright. ;) xo

You know I adore the music..........

[kublakhan27]

Yes, as you know I've lost some lengthy messages as of late, and can't promote my stuff, so I predict about six readers for this one haha But I have yours, and you were the first one here, which makes me happy :) In my mind, this poem still doesn't sound quite like me, but I think the subject matter is...I think this harkens back (way back) to Colderidge a bit, and I think I had Leonard in the back of my mind, he likes those short, succinct little stanzas ;) Like you said, there are just Benji statements in this one though...I'm so glad you enjoyed it love, cuz you know how I laboured over this one...it was a definite labour of love to get done, and your response makes it all worthwhile...glad you liked the song too, I'm starting to think that Mrs.R is in the back of my mind when I make these selections as well...thanks so much my dear friend, can I have a light? ;) xo