TV exploded one night
electric flame caught nylon curtains
in arterial surge across
ceiling and wall,
smoke chemical thick
made molasses about the room
crawling under doors,
dad shouted
in lucky red stripes
snatching me from my bed,
mom already on porch roof,
jumping into uneven sprawl,
windows shattered
glitter fragments on the lawn,
sirens loud and quick
sister also free,
just dad and me,
smoke kissed me
crawling into my throat
dad held me close,
he too coughed,
we felt hot
as searing walls made about us,
other voices,
firemen slicks and axes
breaking and smashing
either them or fire,
landing window,
face in illuminated mask looking up
and i was dropped
suspended mid air,
heat reached for me,
strong arms caught
face pressed to chest
we ran,
explosion reverberated through
neighborhood,
gas erupted,
i thought of dad and cried
on fender of LaFrance 79
was being assured
warm voices a hand in my hair,
another explosion
as gallons sprayed and poured
it was over now,
and i raise my head
emerging from the smoke
lucky red stripes now smeared
pajamas mom bought he hated,
she said they would be lucky
one day.
Great piece. Having survived a house fire due to a faulty chimney and an apartment fire due to a., neighbor who started the fire, you captured everything perfectly. It took me back to both fires right away. Powerful stuff.
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dang man…fire is scary stuff…cant imagine the fear felt in that moment…but also the reassurance as well to have your family….an exploding tv too…oh my….
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tried to get into it and express and feel
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Very sweet! And such a memory explained so concisely. Arlene
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a memory of fiction a try at placing myself in situations other than my own
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Oh my. This had my heart racing. Sharp words full of emotion, fear, sacrificial love, sadness–then the ironic ending.
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Thanks Victoria an experiment in placing myself in a situation
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A very engaging story within these lines.
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Thank you
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Wow! Vivid imagery!
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