Comfortingly (poem)

Comfortingly

Why, sun in sky, heart on fire

Chimneying throat to brain

Befogging vision, bothering the rain

Belting diphthongs, oohs for blues

Or why do fools

Set their hair aflame

Be the wick-end of a honeycomb taper

A little eco-chico a moth won’t pay for

Scorns its enticer for this brief candle shtick

Scorches, falls to its back and kicks

You kick, when the last straw

Between finger and thumb is prodded in

The perfect touch of match to birthday icing ash

The task sinks the pack-mule’s haunches

To bear a smile under these good wishes

When in your cardboard crown you sit alone

You eat it all

List for yourself what life is too short for

All, the spiteful kindnesses

All, the open arms

A hundred stories below

Urging you let go

At a minute after the eleventh hour

Comes the call best not ignored

They cross the street but toss behind a coat

Thine een besmote

Again the wreaths are hung and gold is borne

Wraps are dropped in overheated company

Anglo-Celtic diction dignifies a fatted platter

Be ye merry, wassail thou with nicotine and honey

Comfortingly

See more poetry on Uncollected Poems page

Loaded Language

(2019, Stephanie Foster)