Moths, Flame

 

At dawn beneath the light

moths come

to the smoldering ruins

searching the ashes

for loved ones

 

Ash drifts into the air

frail and hopeless

like stark remains

of dried ghosts   

 

When the ashes land

they do not break but

vanish in poofs  

 

like powdered birds

stomped on

by the wind’s foot

==================================

from my unpublished manuscript: inheritance

first published in New Mexico Review

Author's Note

I was sitting at a late-night campfire watching moths
igniting into flames, and wondering ...

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

this reminds me of a video that i showed my lit classes about emily dickinson. They talked of her love life which was mostly just fantasies about poets she admired and maybe wished to be with...and then a poem of hers called "Wild Nights" and as the poem was read by Jane Alexander we saw a moth in a light chasing the flame.
dried ghosts and the phoenix that does not rise.
i have loved ones who ended up ashes...a couple who asked to be cremated and a best friend who died in a fire...i relate to this in several ways.
awfully good poem.
j.

[DAH]

Thank you, jacob, for these fine comparisons.
I'm happy that it resonates.

Cheers,
DAH

[VelvetPotato]

This gives me a nostalgic feeling of being a kid and watching the moths sacrifice themselves to the light and flames. Great piece!

[DAH]

Thank you!

[Coyote Poetry]

This is poetry. Each set of lines, strong and understood.
"Ash drifts into the air
frail and hopeless
like stark remains
of dried ghosts"
My favorite lines are above. Thank you for sharing the amazing poetry.
Coyote

[DAH]

Thank you, CP!

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome.

[Crowley]

Thats quite the visual. And the description in those last lines, the powdered birds evokes both wonder and sadness at the same time. You can't take your eyes form the car crash can you...lol. Great writing!

[DAH]

Thank you, Crowley!

[Dave Brown]

an interesting observation very well expressed
I have not seen moths go into the actual flame but they definitely do seem to poof off into nothingness

[DAH]

Thank you, Dave!

[CD Campbell]

It's amazing how fragile one is when chasing the light. We are created from that ash and carbon just to hurry and return to it. Your poem makes me want to slow down, be more like Dylan Thomas and do not go gentle into that good night. Excellent.

[DAH]

I love this take on Chair.

Thank you, CD!

[gram linski]

a wonderfully expressive ephemeral somekind of elemental loss expressed in poetic nuance and noise,
my only sin ; to fall in love with a moth,
me, the flame,

[DAH]

Thank you, gram!

[Kay Salisu Titilola]

Epitaph of a moths I guess, written over an ash grave.

Well penned... DAH

[DAH]

Thank you, Kay!

[barleygirl]

It's kinda strange & haunting to me, to be reading this poem on the same morning when I just read the verdict on the "Ghost Ship" case . . . an unforgettable tragedy among artists especially . . . I'm happy where it landed, but it isn't over (my guess). Anyhow, your poem is an amazing depiction of how these artists were drawn to each other, to "the life" and "the scene" . . . not seeing the potential bonfire. I don't think you wrote this with Ghost Ship in mind, but it sure does fit (killer imagery) in my imagination! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[DAH]

Thank you, Margie, and, no, this wasn't composed for the G.S. It was written a year before, but I do see the symbolism that has you thinking about it.

Peace and Light,
DAH

[Davidgeo]

Impermanence is the only permanent thing about the ruins... is what I thought of. I guess that's kinda the whole point behind the story of the Phoenix, rising from the ashes to begin the cycle over and over again.

[DAH]

Thank you, David.