Controlled Burn

Perhaps a spot of spring cleaning, after a fashion....

Can't see the pathways through the crush

as forest's canopy makes night;

an overgrowth of underbrush

prevents new sprouts from reaching light.

Some cleansing clearing is in store,

creating space to feed new life

by burning down what heretofore

had nourished nature.  Now it's rife

with rotted stands of misshaped growth

untended, harboring disease.

I strike the match. The fire is both

destroyer, bringer of a peace;

the aftermath of smouldering soul

with ashen truths to make me whole.

Reviews

[KimLove "The Beautiful ..]

Nice job of describing the so called controled fires we must set here is our beautiful State of Fl. I probrobly would not have understood it if I did not know that they do it and why. Very nice imagery Joel, Thinking about it now I suppose it could be describing the cleaning out of the old when it comes to our heart, mind, and soul as well. Either way it is beautifully written. xoxo

[Valentine]

Fire this season has been awful in Texas and other places..funny how Mother Nature slowly regrows the trees in a few years and animals that scattered return..I guess it is just called a big part of life..even if we do not like it at the time..Kathie

[ju]

love it. making a clean sweep- brilliant. "an overgrowth of underbrush" i like that.

[Hayley]

"cleansing clearing is in store," - like the alliteration.
I like how the fire is a destroyer and also a bringer of peace.
It's like a forest fire, and I think of how the fire destroys in the "forest's canopy makes night" and then after it burns down it leaves everything peaceful but broken. That is how I view this poem, and that the ashen truths that leave me whole relates to the truth that remains after all the crap has burned away, leaving me raw.
Excellent piece of writing :)

[.......]

I really enjoyed this piece. powerful and wonderful

[Ruth]

And of the soul too, it would seem1 Powerful love! A good spring clean can purge all the debris away, this is wonderful! xx

[Kenneth The Poet]

Circle of life, need more be said.

Excellent piece indeed.

[FJ Davis]

A mind-expanding metaphor of great depth and endless application.
Brilliant, Joel!

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

In the mood I am in right now Bear, this poem struck home with me. Time for some spring cleaning most definitely. Excellent piece

[Lily Mae]

This has so many things going through my head but hit my heart.. A controlled burn says it all..with the ashen truths to make me whole..xx A great write Joel... a cleansing for regrowth is sometimes needed.x