Logs are frozen
to the touch,
land in the wicker basket
with a thud.
Dusty damp coal
fills the hod
and newspaper crowns
wait to light
kindling in the grate.
As yesterday’s news
goes up in smoke,
flames roar to life
in our inglenook.
Kim M. Russell, 14th December 2020
My response to dVerse Poets Pub Quadrille: In the Inglenook
Linda is back this Monday to host the Quadrille from her inglenook. Yes, we are writing poems of 44 words exactly, excluding the title and including the word ‘Inglenook’.
Linda has included a definition, although I didn’t need one as we have two inglenooks in our house, both inhabited by log burners, one of which is working. She has also shared poems by Wilbur D. Nesbit, John Betjeman and Mary Ruefle.
writing in north norfolk 
Oh Kim, how marvelous this must be! Wonderful imagery with so few words.
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Thank you, Linda. A dirty job but worth it on a cold winter’s day.
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So true.
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This is exquisitely drawn, Kim! The image of yesterday’s news going up in smoke puts me in the mind of “bygones be bygones,” and new beginnings taking shape via inglenook! 💝💝
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Thank you, Sanaa!
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I think the fire is a thoroughly appropriate place for yesterday’s news. I love the idea of the bad memories going up in smoke while only the fire of the moment is real.
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My pleasure is to read The Times on a Saturday, the only day we have a paper delivered, My favourite part is the Saturday Review. Davis gets a paper at work, the Daily Mirror for the sports pages and the quick puzzles on his lunch break, – in my opinion, a waste of time but great for lighting fires!
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🤣 I am inclined to agree 🔥
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You have captured that moment before the fire starts perfectly… It reminds me of when you arrive in a cabin with a cold fireplace, and that frozen wood… best use of news you can have.
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Thanks Bjorn.
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Oh, so beautiful and freeing. Burning those reminders of yesterdays, that itself can bring closure. Along with, figuratively, memories that may haunt. A brilliant piece that captures the darkness in winter, then the light that ignites when we learn to let go of the past. I can relate to that so much! Beautifully written and especially stirring.
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Thank you, Lucy. It’s a realistic poem, as it describes my every day ritual during the winter months, with a subtle metaphor.
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Sounds like you have been a bit of a firestarter–frozen wood, coal, and kindling wrapped in yesterday’s news. The piece warms me just reading it.
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You got that right, Glenn, I am a fire starter!
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You capture the chilly beginnings of a fire beautifully. There’s nothing like an open fire or a wood stove, as long as somebody else is dealing with it 🙂
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Thank you, Jane. In our house, I’m the fire starter. 🙂
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I start the stove if there’s wood prepared in advance, otherwise husband does it as he’s the wood cutter.
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Fire isn’t fire until it’s blazing; until it’s infernoville, and lasts only for the early (non-dying) embers, and you capture that perfectly here KR. Paper and kindling don’t count, but you can’t get to Inlenookia without them…Thoroughly enjoyed this one!
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Thanks Ron. Inglenookia is my place of worship in this cold weather.
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Nice one Kim
Much💗love
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Thank you, Gillena – much love to you!
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And wouldn’t we all like to send yesterday’s news up in flames! This is such a pleasant read.
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Thanks Bev. I love making crowns out of old newspapers – sometimes I look at the headlines while doing so and take great delight in watching them burn.
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Two inglenooks? !!!! I am beyond envious, even though only one works. I can imagine the frozen logs and damp coal … your description made it real.
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Thank you, Helen. When we first moved in there was only one inglenook in the kitchen, until we discovered one bricked up in the dining room. Sadly, the company we paid to install flues and log burners did a very poor job. We had to replace the one in the kitchen and the year before last when we were eating a meal with daughter, son-in-law and grandson, the other one cracked and is now condemned. We hope to get an electric heater in there soon.
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I picture old newspapers burning in the fire. Sometimes that is a good place for it.
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Yep!
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Great term “newspaper crowns” and I know exactly what you mean. I like how yesterday’s news burns up to keep you warm. Those kinds of stoves take constant tending and a steady supply of fuel. Nothing beats the heat they put out though.
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Thank you, Lisa. You are so right about constant tending and steady supply of fuel – that’s why it’s my job!
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You’re welcome and good for you!
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This poem puts us directly in the moment with the touch and sounds and in the end the flames roaring to life. Very clever to use yesterday’s news. 👏
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Thank you, Tricia. 🙂 I am the log-basket filler and fire lighter in our house – my husband has trouble getting fires started and then forgets about them so they always go out. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no pyromaniac!
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We write what we know, don’t we? 😉
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This is a fantastic poem 🙂
First I learned ‘inglenook’ from Linda, and now you’ve taught me the word ‘hod’!
-David
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Thank you, David! 🙂
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That’s a satisfying ending. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe.
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The perfect use of yesterday’s news Kim. Well written!
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Thank you, Rob!
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Yesterday’s news up in smoke! Hararar – too right.
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🤓
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For many years we’ve had a wood-burning furnace so I can relate to this, Kim! But I’ve never burned coal…only wood, cobs and newspapers. We say the wood warms us three times….and this fire-starter poem warms my heart 🙂
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We have smoke-free ‘home fire ovals’, a kind of anthracite, which keep the fire ticking over when you haven’t got time to throw on logs.
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I love the newspaper crowns! Were you describing the rolls of paper we would tie in a knot? I remember making those as a kid. Very heartwarming and cozy Kim 🙂🥰
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Thanks Christine! Yes, the newspaper rolls knitted into crowns that take years to perfect.
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Nice Post
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Thank you!
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