Inferno

Burnt hands, burnt feet incinerated skin can’t eat
Temperature rising, smoke neutralizing all that’s broke
Bubbling, screaming, burning pain ringing, only bones remain
The flames of memories still burn glowing coals in hand clenched to learn
Blackened flesh, heart turned ash, flames refresh the sting of the lash
Open wound, silence
Scar broken needles
Love’s butchering violence
Chars on church steeples

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

Brutal words, raw as hell. Running for cover, soren. Someone or something has been misbehaving - to say the least, in your world, on your plain. Hope to goodness you are calmer, cooler and more collected than were when those words surfaced. Hug for the calmness thereabouts, friend.

[Soren]

Thank you so much, EmmaJoy These words were not of the present, but of the past and they can be physical, were meant to be metaphorical

[John the Baptist]

Sorry to hear things have gotten this bad down under.

[Soren]

Thank you, John. This was an episode a couple of years ago just came back to memory. Appreciate your read of this poem and your support.

[Thomas W Case]

Powerful work. Tremendous.

[Soren]

Thank you, Thomas. I appreciate you reading this poem for your comment.

[Marie]

I will begin at the end of this wondrous metaphoric gem with the line: "Chars on church steeples". For me this brings to mind that on Protestant Churches in Ireland and in the little town where I live there was always a rooster atop the steeples to distinguish the churches from Catholic Churches. "Loves butchering violence" could be wars (The Crusades, etc) in God's name out of supposed love for Him. "Blackened flesh, heart turned ash, flames refresh the sting of the lash" could relate to the beating Jesus got on his way to The Crucifixion. "Open wound, silence" could be Jesus death. The first three lines could be the Hell (as in Dante's Divine Comedy) where those who committed these crimes will spend their time for what they did. "Scar broken needles" surely refer to addiction and if that is so, I am completely on the wrong track, Soren!!! You truly are an amazing poet and master of disguise in your use of allegory! Wondering now, if the first lines refer to the bombing of Hiroshima? Whatever the subject matter was, you felt very strongly about it, Soren! I apologise, I truly can't think further. Please forgive me. I would so love to be able to do justice to unravelling the metaphor, but have to accede defeat. Thank you for sharing, Soren...

[Soren]

Marie, thank you so much for reading this piece and as I have said before, knowing interpretation is wrong, I believe that the power of the poem is felt by the reader not the poet. There is no way that anyone could divine the seeds of this poem. they began when I set my cell on fire a few years ago and had third and 4thdegree burns over, 25% of my body. This thought in a memory brought back the painfulness of physical burns as opposed to emotional burns. The physical Sting of Burns feels like needles, and I had memories of holding a hot cold, so as to remember not to touch them in the future. There are references to emotional love and how it can leave one’s heart in ashes well, the steeple is associated with churches and often with marriage.

[Marie]

Dear Soren, tears fill my eyes as I read your response to my comment. I can't even begin to imagine all you went through when your mobile phone went on fire! It was a living nightmare! I am so very sorry for all you've been through. I pray you healed well and quickly physically and psychologically. Mobile devices were unsafe when first created and we didn't know much about them which didn't help. This poem must have been so painful for you to write, but I pray it helped with your healing too. Thank you for sharing with me. Please forgive me for the dog's dinner I made of such a personal and extremely poignant event, dear Soren...

[Arundass TP]

Terrific moments. I can visualise.

[Soren]

Thank you for the read and comment. It is most appreciated.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this reminds me of my heart...it has felt at times that it has been cremated...
and I am carrying around nothing but ashes now.

[Soren]

Thank you, Jacob mine as well has been burned on many occasions, but keeps coming back from the urn. I appreciate your read and most tender words. Hope your heart recovers.