Spontaneous

One minute she’s standing before me,

Is stridently screaming her claims,

And then in a moment of horror,

I watch as she bursts into flames.

There isn’t a fire around her,

Not even a spark to begin,

But then she erupts in a moment,

The fire bursts out from within.

 

I’ve heard that it’s happened to others

They burn with a spiritual flame,

Some essence of horror within them

Devouring their body the same,

But nothing will char things around them

It only destroys skin and bone,

Their chairs and their rooms are protected,

It doesn’t set fire to their home.

 

I try to remember what caused it,

What happened to scramble her brain,

What started the turmoil and forced it,

To burst out and drive her insane,

The flames started under her eyelids

Then roared in a burst from her throat

It seemed to be something that I did,

It may have been something I wrote.

 

I don’t dare to start a new friendship

With women I knew from before,

There’s always some thing that might end it,

With her flaming out on the floor.     

She always said I was controlling,

Was cold and was hard, and I am,

But maybe that’s why; she’s a woman,

And I, thank my stars, am a man.

 

David Lewis Paget

Reviews

[Barbz]

While I am aware of a small number of cases of actual spontaneous combustion, and the fact that there has been little research on it due to the few victims, I would, with all due respect, have titled this emotional piece, Out Of Control!! But, then again, I am Woman, and we, by nature, read between the lines....Interesting subject and very well done, as usual......Barbz

[Tomás Ó C..]

The joys of life and partnerships!!!

[TPK Stories]

Nice twist as always...well written...

[andrew mitchell]

Spontaneous combustion ( SC) maybe use a hose to douse her flames lol. No just kiddibg A great yarn and SC does happen.

[Avinash]

Women often have a malfunctioning spark plug which can set them on fire without any obvious reason at times. But if it leads to internal combustion, then you can not hold yourself responsible for her fate.

[R Smith]

I heard about this phenomena about 35 years ago, used to read The Unexplained magazine, loved all that stuff, you turned this into a great poem, it just flew by before my eyes, funny but when I read those mags it was always women who combusted, maybe you hit a nerve there lol, more great work David :)

[Lady Lola]

Very ambiguous. On the surface you talk about spontaneous combustion, but below you seem to talk about blind fury.
Lucky for you, the last paragraph is your narrator's opinion, otherwise my womanly enragement would now be directed at you. ;-) Just kidding.

[PANDORA]

The line below made me laugh..i am horrible.

There’s always some thing that might end it,
With her flaming out on the floor.

I like your style of writing and look forward to reading more.

[Valentine]

Here today, but gone tomorrow. Could your coldness been like steel and sparked that flame? I like the fast flow in this write. Well done as always. Valentine

[Marie]

Spontaneous combustion has happened to men as well as women. I don't know how much emotions have to do with it.

In this case, the fire may be symbolic--a terrible letting out of passion.

[emmajoy]

'But maybe that’s why; she’s a woman, - And I, thank my stars, am a man.'

Read this twice. First time I immediately thought of spontaneous combustion. All the signs are there, the flames and all else happening as we're told occurs.

Then I read it again and my mind went into soar and spin. Is this a fantastic memory caught up in a web of wow?! Could this be about a moment or few, how a woman reacted to a man, how a man feels then believes what might be happening? Imagination is an incredible function.. instinct.. ability ..

So here i am, still unsure but as ever impressed by your superb meter and the ability to use it whilst telling such a tale. or is it a touch of fantasy.. or, perhaps, a glorious dream!