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Tuesday 2 November 2010

Remember, Remember: A Poem by Pete Marshall


Remember, Remember
by Pete Marshall

Glitter falls and sparkles bright
open mouths absorb delight
flares that shoot across the stars
smoke that chokes the weeping heart
jackets hot with molten fat
children warm with scarf & hat
lanterns glow on frosty nights
bangers shared are warm delights.

Logs that crackle on the fire
waxen faces, heat perspire
flames that rise toward the sky
lick through masks of wicked lies
that curl a lip in twisted hate
as flesh is burned and anger sate
for pennies bought this funeral pyre
and treason tore through his desire.

*****************

Remember, Remember the 5th of November! Every year in the Uk we celebrate Bonfire Night. A time when a guy is made and thrown on the fire as fireworks are released into the nights sky. But as with so many traditions its true meaning has so often been overlooked. The guy was Guy Fawkes who, along with his comrades, tried to kill the English King James I and replace him with a Catholic Monarch. Having been captured an tried for treason, Guy Fawkes was to jump from the hangman's platform and break his neck on the fall, thus saving himself from being hung, drawn & quartered.

This is my poem for One Shot Wednesday, part of One Stop Poetry.

image care of creative commons flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/a11sus/

56 comments:

Unknown said...

Short, sweet, amazing!

anthonynorth said...

A spectacular description of Bonfire night. Excellent.

moondustwriter said...

I thought that was the reference but not sure.
Pete I always love your poetry. There is a mastery in your words of the darkness that lies just beneath the facade.

Happy One Shot Wednesday

Moonie smiles

Hope said...

I love your style! Your poem flows nicely and has great rhythm. A very clear depiction of a bonfire. We often have them and love every minute of them

thanks for the info. sounds like a tradition worth remembering. Enjoy it!

thank you

Brian Miller said...

sounds like a hot time in the old town tonight...smiles. interesting bit o culture there peter...

Anonymous said...

Incredible work, such an amazing "bonfire" with strong emotion. I much enjoyed reading this! ~April

Desert Rose said...

You are just mind blowing Pete! your variation in topics is certainly a delight to read! now i know something new..Bonfire day and with a great description! WELL DONE..:)

Awdures said...

Did you know that Guy Faulkes was a welsh man? So it's because of our anti establishment Armageddon raisers we get to burn stuff on the fifth of November. Really Welshman haven't changed lol. Loved the poem a tasty treat from the gorgeous Pete :) keep it up honey and thanks for being an inspiration
Shan
X

Caty said...

I could picture that fire so clearly. Great writing, as always :)

Unknown said...

jackets hot with molten fat...oh how I adore that :)

SuziCate said...

Thank you for that info after your excellent poem! Someone mentioned last week about Bon Fire and Guy Fawkes, and I had no idea what they were talking about!

Carrie Van Horn said...

I can feel the heat and wonder in your words Pete....an awesome poem!

dustus said...

Impressive lyrical flow. Never knew about Bonfire night. I'm always learning about how the other half lives from you, Pete (the good across-the-pond other 1/2 that is. lol). Excellent poem.

Maureen said...

I've been in England on Guy Fawkes night, and have some rather vivid memories of it.

You've set the scene well.

Teresa said...

What a history lesson--I'd never heard of this. Great poem!

Glynn said...

I'm familiar with Guy Fawkes - and this caputres just enough of the evil that was intended. Nice one, Pete.

Chris G. said...

Very nice! Great description, and emotionally charged--quite enjoyable, and I learned something from your post as well. I'll admit the extent of my exposure to "The Fifth of November" begins and ends with V for Vendetta, and I'm always up for a nice history lesson. Vivid, fiery writing...

eyeography said...

Simply outstanding... :)

Christine Ramsay said...

Wow! That is quite a firework poem. You really are the master of this type of poetry. I loved it.

Christine

Dulçe ♥ said...

Great poem and tribute to 'poor' Guy Fawkes and the rest of the conspirators. I love the story and the tradition of bonfires and fireworks which in Spain is similarly celebrated but on June 24th (saint John's) They say is the witches night too!
;)
Great write!

Gabriela Abalo said...

hmmmm... this bring so many good memories :) in Uruguay we also have the bonfire night.

great!

Myrna R. said...

Enjoyed your poem very much. Also, thanks for the background information about bonfire night.

Asobime said...

Great, compacted and delightful poem. Good linkage, good rhythm.

But I thought you were talking about "The Wicker Man"....???

LOL!

In any case, really enjoyed this rich, rich, poem.

Lady Nyo

Bubba said...

I always wished we celebrated Guy Fawkes Day here in the States - but that's just because I love a good fire! (LOL!)

Nicely-written piece, Pete!

And Happy Guy Fawkes Day!

Shashidhar Sharma said...

I enjoyed it Pete and the way you took us through the lines... great imagery and the end was perfect.

ॐ नमः शिवाय
Om Namah Shivaya
Twitter: @VerseEveryDay
Blog: http://shadowdancingwithmind.blogspot.com

hedgewitch said...

very effective blend of rhyme and imagery--the rhyme very stylized, the imagery quite vivid, abrupt and jumping about with a fieriness of its own.

Claudia said...

i never heard about this story..thanks pete for sharing and writing such a powerful poem

Lovely Annie said...

what a story! what a scene painted with your words!

killer one shot, Pete! pun intended?

PattiKen said...

I knew that had to be Guy Fawkes Day when I read it. A friend lived in the UK for awhile, and she said it was terrifying, like the entire country was on fire. Of course, she said it was also a good way to get rid of all that old wooden furniture no longer wanted.

May I have some mash with my bangers, please?

AW said...

Loved the imagery and learning more about the history behind this.

Belinda said...

Vivid imagery. Made me feel like I was there.

Monkey Man said...

Public executions...entertainment in its day. Apt description.

Cassiopeia Rises said...

Oh, just love this Pete. How dark and delicious this is . Wonderful write.

Melanie

Anonymous said...

Really well done, Pete. I remember reading about this...perhaps in one of Phillipa Gregory's novels...or many years ago in history. Your rhyming and meter are perfect.
Victoria

Tuti said...

while I was reading I was like..let it flow..let it flow♫♫...your poetry is AMAZING!more more more!!!

KB said...

I was born in England and Bonfire Night is one night I really miss. It's just not the same here in NZ. The weather is warm at this time of year and we'd sweat buckets sitting around a proper bonfire. Thanks for the lovely memories.

gautami tripathy said...

Wonderful description. Like the note too...

Thanks..

bits and pieces

awitchtrying said...

Great poem! I so love bonfires! I wish we had a holiday for them here in the U.S. I don't know if I would be into the effigy burning, but the fire is such a wonderful thing to admire with friends.

The Exception said...

When I started reading this, I was reminded of the history of Halloween – the long ago evening celebrations or traditions with fires. Your images are wonderful. Felt like I was right there.
Tomorrow is the big night – enjoy.

Anita Magdalena said...

Great imagery in your words and a nice smooth flow, an excellent expression of bonfire night, well penned.

Anonymous said...

Happy Guy Faulkes Day! I do remember it from my time in London. You have drawn a deft picture.

Beachanny said...

You have lots of comments. I can't add much. As I said this is another piece from a genius.

I was puzzled at first about the jacket line. Finally realized it was about the sausages. Took a while--some things are lost in translation you know. Thanks for the day & your support. Gay

June_Butterfly said...

Powerful one shot!

The story behind your poem is very enlightening.Not very familiar with British history so this is a revelation for me.Thank you so much for sharing!

Reflections said...

Powerful images of the fire brought forth through your words... excelllent write.

Strummed Words said...

I've heard of Guy Fawkes night and bonfires. Pretty cheeky guy!

Wysteria said...

Great Poem, your flow is amazing. I loved every sentence...

Thanks for sharing about the Bonfire Night. I never heard of it. Wish I could be at the next one!!!!!!!!!!!!


Wysteria

e@thejoyofbeingamonkeywrench said...

my british friend living in the us was just lamenting having missed another bonfire night. thanks for sharing

Marshy said...

thanks everyone for visiting and leaving some wonderful comments....bonfire night is tonight...so lets burn the b....d!!! hahahah...cheers pete

Anonymous said...

well done, and I enjoyed the history lesson as well:)

Adam Common, Poet said...

I love the contrast between the two stanzas here. Thanks a ton for sharing and thanks for following my blog.

Unknown said...

Great description of an interesting tradition!

Steve Isaak said...

Good, theme-tight/-windy fire theme.

Linda said...

This is wonderful Pete. I really love poetry that rhymes, but I'm having a difficult time with it lately. I think this one is brilliant!

haisley said...

nice poem pete

Whitesnake said...

Nice, very very nice!

River said...

Powerful poem with an education of history. Great Job! :)