New Zealand Poetry
Menu
  • Home
  • Add a Poem
  • Poets
  • Activity
  • Messages
  • eBooks for sale
  • About Us
  • Login
  • Register
Menu

Man catches fire

Posted on 27/08/201627/08/2016 by Mark Prisco

I had the nerve to talk

and the presence of mind

to hear the reply,

which pierced the ear

and fell and swirled

about the entrails.

 

I could not understand,

but I saw a smile and a shade

of pale skin glow, and now

you’re  down on me like a shadow.

 

Maybe I too

am on my knees:

scrubbing the pavement;

or at the table; the traffic lights;

pumping gas at the station,

thinking of you.

 

At night – it’s like the Christmas lights

I saw as a child long after my eyes

were shut tight.

Share this post: on Twitter on Facebook on Google+ on LinkedIn

4 thoughts on “Man catches fire”

  1. Mark Prisco Mark Prisco says:
    04/09/2016 at 9:20 am

    thank you Susannah

    Log in to Reply
  2. Susannah MacDonald Susannah MacDonald says:
    01/09/2016 at 1:55 pm

    Beautifully expressed especially the resolving final verse.

    Log in to Reply
  3. Mark Prisco Mark Prisco says:
    31/08/2016 at 9:40 pm

    thanks Peter. good to hear from you again

    Log in to Reply
  4. peterlebaige peterlebaige says:
    31/08/2016 at 10:41 am

    Hi Marco, those closing lines sum it up, the flash holding on inside eyes tight shut, and what a title..perfectly matches the piece. I love the opening gambit:
    I had the nerve to talk
    and the presence of mind
    to hear the reply,

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Search

About Us What We Do

Publishing Poetry From Aotearoa. We started www.poetry.org.nz website as an avenue for Kiwi Poets to post, share and publish to. We have a growing fun community with some really great Kiwi poetry being produced. Membership is free and is created and maintained as an avenue or outlet for us all. Come and sign up or email editor@poetry.org.nz and join us in making this a success

This website consists of user-generated content which includes all types of writing, especially poetry and fiction. We welcome and encourage all to read and share the works contained in this website if feel you would like to comment on the material please do the poets love the feedback. We embrace all who wish to join but the emphasis is on promoting good New Zealand poets and poetry. We have a philosophy of trying to implement creative expression in the material you find here. We have a growing author base with a core element of outstanding poetry produced

Share this post:  on Twitter  on Facebook  on Google+  on LinkedIn

Recent Poems

  • Thirteen 04/04/2022
  • Not worth knowing 03/04/2022
  • Park Philosophy 17/03/2022
  • One mans trash 28/02/2022
  • The Grim Reaper 16/02/2022

Recent Comments

  • prescription drugs online without doctor on The Port
  • best online canadian pharmacy on The Port
  • pain meds online without doctor prescription on The Port
  • cheap ed pills on The Port
  • anti fungal pills without prescription on The Port

Who is Online

No one is online right now

Incoming Keywords

christmas

Tags

addiction (7) ageing (22) Autumn (5) Cat people (3) change (7) coming home (8) death (7) Decieved (10) Dreams (1) Dunedin (5) earthquake (3) erotica (13) failure (4) fiction (5) history (5) home (7) identity (11) In Central Auckland New Zealand (4) introvert (2) Iodine Dreams (1) longing (6) loss (5) lost (3) love (10) love & power (5) lovers (4) mechanics of manifestation (5) mortality (3) New Zealand poet (2) Not again? (2) original poem (5) original poetry (6) peace/responsibility (7) Perception (5) philosophy (4) poems (4) poetry (14) self-image (2) Sky (2) Sleep (1) Smug (1) time & memory (65) Upthera (1) voyeur/participant (1) writing (15)

Archives

  • April 2022 (2)
  • March 2022 (1)
  • February 2022 (2)
  • January 2022 (2)
  • December 2021 (1)
  • June 2021 (4)
  • May 2021 (1)
  • April 2021 (1)
  • March 2021 (1)
  • February 2021 (5)
  • January 2021 (3)
  • December 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (6)
  • October 2020 (8)
  • September 2020 (13)
  • August 2020 (10)
  • July 2020 (7)
  • June 2020 (8)
  • May 2020 (12)
  • April 2020 (12)
  • March 2020 (7)
  • February 2020 (6)
  • January 2020 (8)
  • December 2019 (7)
  • November 2019 (8)
  • October 2019 (4)
  • September 2019 (11)
  • August 2019 (8)
  • July 2019 (4)
  • June 2019 (5)
  • May 2019 (3)
  • April 2019 (8)
  • March 2019 (10)
  • February 2019 (13)
  • January 2019 (15)
  • December 2018 (10)
  • November 2018 (12)
  • October 2018 (13)
  • September 2018 (27)
  • August 2018 (13)
  • July 2018 (17)
  • June 2018 (17)
  • May 2018 (28)
  • April 2018 (13)
  • March 2018 (31)
  • February 2018 (16)
  • January 2018 (31)
  • December 2017 (19)
  • November 2017 (27)
  • October 2017 (22)
  • September 2017 (27)
  • August 2017 (23)
  • July 2017 (32)
  • June 2017 (23)
  • May 2017 (39)
  • April 2017 (33)
  • March 2017 (23)
  • February 2017 (22)
  • January 2017 (18)
  • December 2016 (28)
  • November 2016 (14)
  • October 2016 (26)
  • September 2016 (30)
  • August 2016 (20)
  • July 2016 (30)
  • June 2016 (25)
  • May 2016 (35)
  • April 2016 (21)
  • March 2016 (25)
  • February 2016 (24)
  • January 2016 (41)
  • December 2015 (75)
  • November 2015 (33)
  • October 2015 (27)
  • September 2015 (4)
  • August 2015 (6)

Most Viewed Posts

  • On ANZAC Day We Stand and Think (2,192)
  • Abeyance (994)
  • A poem for my vagina (782)
  • A Christmas poem for World peace (624)
  • loft (471)

Links

  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
© 2022 New Zealand Poetry | Theme by Superb WordPress Themes