The Flame

Photo: (c) Jamie K. Reaser

Sometimes you have to pour out the melted wax,

or it will drown the flame.

**

One winter night when I was twelve,

my father started a fire in the fireplace.

Just as the flames began to rise,

a large, hairy wolf spider emerged

from under the bark of one of the logs.

I squealed, afraid for its life and

grabbed for crumbled newspaper and kindling

in the hope of urging it to me.

Instead, it ran through the fire, its two back legs

igniting, dragging, singed and paralyzed.

I screamed, unable to stand the pain.

And, then, mercy took it all at once,

and left me wailing.

**

I’ve lost count of the campfires I’ve known, and

the bonfires too. And, forgotten the names of most

of faces that were there, circled, in the 
captivating flicker of light.

Not so long ago, our kinship would have

been a matter of survival, and the stories that

arose, like smoke, would have been our bloodlines.

**

Salamander

Greek: salamandra

Fire lizard

Spotted salamanders will crawl through the snow to mate

and place opaque egg masses on plant stalks in the shallows

of temporary ponds.

True.

**

We put many things into the flames –

to heat our bodies

to nourish our bodies

to free our souls...

To kill the projections of our fear.

**

The phoenix arises from the ashes.

But, not just any ashes: the ashes of its predecessor.

Manifestation is not possible without destruction.

Destruction is not possible without manifestation.

**

Ask a prairie what it knows of fire

and it will answer you

with flowers and grasses

and gratitude for your question.

Thank you for taking the time to notice

what brings it alive.

**

What do I know of lovers and candlelight?

**

Sitting here with this flame,

on this night,

I know that I can love this world.

**

Pour the wax slowly.

(c) 2014-2017/Jamie K. Reaser

From "Winter: Reflections by Snowlight"
Published by Hiraeth Press 

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