Burnt umber,
forest fire of feverish flames
whipped into autumn inferno –
sear,
melt,
char,
ashes bleeding ashes,
rust begetting rust.
My soul blisters in the heat,
but this wounded heart must be cauterised,
and only this furnace
can stanch the flow.
I cringe,
hurl myself from this altar,
scream in rage and pain –
but I know the Hands holding me here
are those of the Master Sculptor.
My material must be
malleable,
purified,
welded to the frame
or subtle inclusions,
dross in the cells,
will undermine the structure.
The fire consumes,
a rage-driven hiss –
dare I trust its heat?
Blacksmith knows
at what temperature I will be tempered,
at what point the slag will burn away.
I can’t see where I fit,
where life becomes Art,
where pain produces product;
I only see these flames.
Blinded,
blistered,
glowing with heat,
my will is forged,
my frame is wrought,
I become
Iron.
Meanwhile, Melody Muses... 
Fantastic. Here is a worthy lectio divina on suffering and its eternal yield. Thank you.
Thank you for continually pushing the limits of my vocabulary – a very honourable pursuit! 🙂 Thanks, Rob….
In poetry I prefer to think of vocabulary as word resources. “Vocabulary” sounds so…academic don’t you think?
Wow! Beautiful!
Thank you Holly! How’s the fast and furious writing coming along?? 🙂
Trying to keep it fast and furious!
Wonderfully true and painful, Melody.
You have been in the furnace, too – do you have any wisdom to share?
I feel very weak and small most of the time, Melody, just clinging to Jesus. He has allowed our sorrow for reasons I don’t understand, but by faith I trust that it is for our good. He can produce good out of suffering even though He is not the author of pain.
Such a difficult lesson to learn firsthand, isn’t it? I am thinking that this being weak is playing nicely into the larger plan – although it feels VERY UNCOMFORTABLE! Comfort in the long run is not the ultimate prize, is it? *sigh*
Wonderful words! I don’t enjoy the furnace… but I know it’s part of the process.
Blessings ~ Wendy
It has taken a long time for me to grow sufficient faith to “know” (with great, optimal certainty)–even as I’m in the brief, temporary fire pit–that I’ll come out of it, not even smelling of smoke, and with art to show for it! Ahhh, what a wonderful GOD–how nice to be counted worthy to endure, to feel His Presence and absolute Love! God bless you big today, Melody–love, your Caddo
Remind me from time to time that the fire is temporary, will you please?? 😦
Sure ’nuff–will do!!
Your words are so well chosen . ..you make us feel the heat too. God bless you as He molds you and holds you!
Thank you!