A Bright Pyre Of Humanities
Brady Bowen 1973 (Louisiana)
I lit myself afire today
to burn off all the dross
around my pyre I danced and played
and never felt the loss
The first flare of orange flower
was false pride taking flame
this thing that choked off my power
and caused me to lay blame
When next I saw my rage burn red
set fire to all around
I laughed until my anger fled
I laid that burden down
Veangefulness turned the flames to blue
as cold as winter’s bite
but its grey smoke heavenward flew
like incense in the night
Next fearfulness burned yellow-bright
as it raced through my veins
true closeness won’t put me to flight
or hold me with its chains
Purple raged my burning conceit
giving off acrid smells
I looked upon my inner self
and laughed like ringing bells
Green flames erupted from my eyes
a shocking sight to see
burning like bottle rockets launched
destroying crass envy
tall columns of blackest burning
I saw with my third eye
It was my cruelty exiting
a rattlesnake’s long sigh
At long last the flames took their rest
departing for Hades
I realized what’s left is best
and slipped ME on with ease.
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Written on April 25, 2022
Submitted by BradyB999 on April 26, 2022
Modified on March 05, 2023
- 1:06 min read
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Quick analysis:
Scheme | XAXA BCBC DXDX EFEF FGFG XHXH XIXI JKJK LMLM |
---|---|
Closest metre | Iambic tetrameter |
Characters | 1,097 |
Words | 223 |
Stanzas | 9 |
Stanza Lengths | 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4 |
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"A Bright Pyre Of Humanities" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/125495/a-bright-pyre-of-humanities>.
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