Fire Pantoum by Tobi Cogswell

Fire fire, give me fire
sweet woman dimly lit by candle
flame and smoke, torches, smoke
“Don’t go" she says quietly, “Please don’t go"
Sweet woman dimly lit by candle
shadows beneath eyes, her life is ancient
“Don’t go" she says quietly, “Please don’t go"
coyotes yell at the moon, sea of twinkles
Shadows beneath eyes, her life is ancient
cat across sky, the mouse a bad omen
coyotes yell at the moon, sea of twinkles
funeral music overlays the dark night
Cat across sky, the mouse a bad omen
get the broom, sweep with sage and jasmine
funeral music overlays the dark night
the scholar watches her legs while she cleans
Get the broom sweep with sage and jasmine
the bold rocks glow like hidden statues
the scholar watches her legs while she cleans
throat dry, the scholar desires desire
The bold rocks glow like hidden statues
cretaceous missiles planted in Earth
throat dry, the scholar desires desire
beards must pray, pray for redemption
Cretaceous missiles planted in Earth
flame and smoke, torches, smoke
beards must pray, pray for redemption
fire fire, give me fire


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