Another Poem Today

Burn-out

Carole Shukle

Copyright 1999

This old dwelling,

withstood the erosion

of time, the fury of the elements,

and the thousands of souls

who walked through my portals.

Hardwood, heavy beams,

and loving construction

made me strong and durable.

Tongue and groove

construction gave me strength.

Large windows captured

the light. Slow waltzing shadows

played across my wood plank floors.

This old house lit ebony

skies with bright

orange-red flames,

that licked tasty wood

and turned white to charcoal.

Angular buttresses

jutted from the ground

like broken wooden teeth.

An ancient chandelier

lay half buried in the debris

reminiscent of grander times.

In the shambles,

A broken wardrobe mirror

spun spider-web lines capturing

multiple reflections of myself,

but I recognized

none of them. Like a phoenix

rising from the ashes,

I stepped into oblivion.

*Published in WordWrights! , Spring Issue for 1999.

This was written about my decision to quit teaching after 22 years.

***Reminder that we are having another Treasure Hunt on Monday.

Reminder: Treasure Hunt Monday June 22 at 9:00 AM EST