After Burning, Read
After Burning, Read:
This Apocalypse is being televised in your living room, on every channel of your big-screen TV. The flames of discontent and prejudice are heaving and burning down everything, everywhere between dusk and the rupture of dawn. Everyone everywhere is a thirsting antipathist who lays in wait to doom troll anyone, anytime, all the time. And for what?
We are surrounded by hatred. We have been invaded slowly by fear. We have been taken over by the indifference to death.
Even poetry is compromised. We can not compose freely, easily, or sometimes, at all. We may mask our words, our connections, our functions, and our heavenly coincidences in fear of being misunderstood when straightforward or raw. Sometimes thoughts are wrapped in a haphazard metaphor as if we are terrorized by butterflies in fields of flaming poppies. Or maybe it is the hideous fevered monster that is never to be satiated that menaces the narratives the most. Its spirit moves without elegance, integrity or the willingness towards honesty.
This is a Summer of Love?
This is madness.
I will not cozy up to these bonfires of coup de grâce.
Now, I’m just waiting on Winter, to read a good book.
©️Winter Dawn Burns
14 thoughts on "After Burning, Read"
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Your title is pure perfection. This whole poem captures the enormity of this current moment. Well done.
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback and for reading my poem!
Love the title twist.
Great word choices
And the sentiment of consequence is for me the comforting fire.
Thanks so much for reading my poem and for your thoughtful comment! For me, it is the comforting fire, as well.
you capture our troubled time quite well.
Thank you! I appreciate you reading my poem and for your kind comment!
Your narrative tells the story of the moment, rich with twists and turns, pain and fear. “Even poetry is compromised” gives me pause. A lot to consider.
I really appreciate you reading my poem and for your wonderful feedback! Thanks so much!
“Sometimes thoughts are wrapped in a haphazard metaphor as if we are terrorized by butterflies in fields of flaming poppies.” This line is striking and visually visceral. Excellent writing!
Thanks for taking the time to read my poem and for your generous comment! I appreciate you!
Oooooo, “thirsting antipathis.” Excellent word choices.
Just a thought…do you need to tell us it’s hatred, fear, and madness? I think you’re doing a kick-ass job of showing these to us. I don’t think you need to tell as well as show, but that’s just my opinion. (Feel free to ignore.)
I love this poem. I love your bold approach.
Thanks again for reading my poem and for your kind comment and your input. I appreciate it!
This hit me: “Even poetry is compromised. We can not compose freely”
Thank for reading my poem and leaving a comment! I know, right? Nothing is untouched, not even poetry. I find it sad.