The Fire...

Here is the piece I submitted for The Timothy Corsellis Prize not so long ago, of course as I intuitively knew, it did not win.

However, they actually gave feedback to every single poet. It was both open and balanced constructive criticism with some encouraging pointers.

The fact they took that time to me means a hell of a lot and although upon reflection this piece most definitely feels cliche' in places. I feel like this is my best submission to date simply because the response was more than I've ever had from a submission.

More than I ever expected considering the breadth of the competition...

The Fire

And you,

became fire.

At every word,

vehement.

Searing

those you sought

with love

Or contempt.

Stewed heavy compassion

to uphold

and nourish the empty,

the godforsaken.

And though you were snuffed

carelessly

and that fire raw,

bright

now ethereal sparks

of efficacious poetry.

It was as though,

you had burned for an age already

and in those flames

spanned reflections of every star;

helplessness

                  wider,                  

than your finely pointed years.

At the risk of sounding cheesy, it's always the smallest and most unexpected of things that are the most rewarding and encouraging. For anybody out there pursuing writing if you love and live for it above everything else and cannot forget about it. Then, to borrow from Depeche Mode, "just hang on and suffer well."

<3