...jim, i'm dazzled by 'this' guy and on the second read he was the hydrogen convering to helium as our sun does every nano-second and then i balanced both on a magician's spinning plate, all this to say i like it and it's malleable in a wonderful way...peace, charlie

Nicely done. This brings back memories of a fire used in North Ga to morn and celebrate the death of one so many were close to. She ran a horse ranch/riding stable and was close to a number of people from a local Indian tribe. Like a second mother my kids. Wood was collected, then burned and at the end which took 3 days the mourning was over.

Well worded reminder Jim that building a fire can be either a dirty or fun job depending on the circumstances. This one seems a little bit of both.

I really like this piece. The scene is so vivid and yet more meaning lies beneath or in between, or so it seems. The last stanza takes the "blaze" and gives it a life not all its own, but lends it to another who has as little power in choosing his own identity...as little choice as that powerful blaze has. Yet he does try to "Take back that little bit of day" - and this is a very meaningful effort which speaks loudly to what lies at the heart of the blaze, rather at the heart of human longing...our own insides dampened by life, some do toil to try and build up that fire inside, to light themselves up, find meaning, and LIVE despite the ashes all around. Well, that's what came to me when I read this. Concise and yet full of possibilities.