PROMETHEUS

Prometheus
PM 1301205

The flint strikes, the match is

lit and the fire starts once again

moving through the small tinder

waiting an instant before engulfing

the larger pieces of wood in massive

flame.

Eyes burn red and wild as they

watch the fire grow larger and

become an entity in itself,

bigger than the world at large

and the strongest force in existence

at least around the fire pit.

Hands and feet stretch out to

gather in the warmth

and cheeks become rosy red,

removing the bite of the evening

chill and protecting all within

the circle.

Twigs and sticks are poked

around in the embers and then

looked at in amazement as they

too, catch fire and threaten to

disappear completely unless they

are quickly removed and buried

in the soil.

Later on, stories are retold

even the ones where the endings are

traditional lore and the answers are

public property,

still instill fear in the listener

and set nerves on edge until

the final climax is reached

and the last head is chopped off

by the axe-wielding murderer.

More freshly chopped wood is

piled on until we have reached

inferno status and then it is

time to drop the huge bomb,

the whole tree trunk that was

once a seat for two people,

thrown on top, destined to burn

all night we watch as it slowly

catches fire, strong at first and

and then receding into a very warm

calm that keeps the blood in your

veins at the exact temperature

and fills you with such warmth

that the very idea of getting up to

go to bed is absurd, murdering

this mood would indeed be such

a crime that only the most cruel hearted

would even consider it.

Marshmallows come out of nowhere,

mixing terribly with beer and rye

whiskey but we wash them down all

the same, caramelized sugar which will

need to be cut out of facial hair

with a small pair of scissors.

MCC