Open Fire

I saw you today
tossing love letters into an open fire
letting our memories burn and twist
in the somber setting
of a silent flame
I know that you're hurting love
I know that what I've done is wrong
and that tears can't extinguish
this kind of roaring flame
But don't let it be over
don't let our love disappear
too much blood and ink
have been spilled
to just turn it all to smoke
rising out of an open fire
If I meant anything to you
and if our love has to be a memory
please bury it under lock and key
and don't let it spread in the winds
that cut through this autumn air
I know that you owe me nothing
especially not my dignity or my respect
but I'd like to be remembered my love
even if only in spite
I want my words to have more meaning
than just a column of wind-whipped smoke
and I want our memories to last longer
than a small box of hand-written letters
tossed into the heart
of a roaring open fire

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70 Responses to Open Fire

  1. QTeePi387 says:

    this poem hits close to home i've burnt love letters before but it was something i had to do i had to forget the hurt can be so great sometimes its better to forget for awhile

  2. Alan Cummings says:

    Great piece. The pain we've experienced from looved ones is probably best explained here. Very comprehensive.

  3. manda says:

    Any poem about burning love letters must have some thought to it, this one has the most i've ever heard. (black tears)

  4. blackflames says:

    i love this poem it reminds me of my problems and my friends problems with there boyfriends and girlfriends it's really thought out

  5. Aimee says:

    I think the great thing about your writing is that most everyone can relate to it and most everyone has been there at some time in their life. You can express and put into words what some people can't. Thats a very big help. And this poem does just that.
    Addicted reader
    Aimee

  6. Insane_Vanity says:

    Beautiful. I love it, it reminds me so much of what i lost. and i think i know how to regain it, thank you

    Midnight/Vanity

  7. Phoenix says:

    WOW…truly another testament to your enormous collection of quality work (sounds like I'm sucking up), this would now rank as one of my favorite poems from your site!
    —-Phoenix—-

  8. milena says:

    great poem! but to bad it reminds me of what i dont have anyway its all good.

  9. Damon says:

    Touched!!!

  10. a shadow says:

    you never cease to amaze me. you have a tendency to write about emotions that i am feeling at that moment…you will never know how much you have helped me. thank you.

  11. simplekitty says:

    its a good poem

  12. Jade says:

    Cool ,very cool ,kinda made me think …(thoughtful pause)

  13. CyRuS says:

    Beautiful…

  14. Dan says:

    Excellent! I must admit that my orginal thought was that the meter clashed a bit with the straightforward style and tone in beginning, up until the line, "…let our love disappear."

    After that line the meter matches the tone alomst like the smoke matches the very heat coming from this conjured flame of which you speak. Once again, impressive work.

  15. the dark one says:

    *walk into computer lab, goes to ravens rants, reads new poem. closes computer out, goes to bathroom, starts crying* as usual, your writing brought up emotions that i have supressed and hidden inside of me. thank you for bringing them out of me. thank you for being who you are.
    "Those left standing will make millions writing books about the way things should have been."

  16. yvette says:

    i really like your poetry. its pretty deep. it kinda reminds me of my own poems. but i think your much better. it seems, though, that we have much of the same feelings. good to know im not the only one who goes through bad times alone.

  17. The Poisoned Heart says:

    your poetry has an outspoken and universal feel to it. It really desrcibes how closure can b important and mean so much about life and death. and the feelings you describe are felt by all (well at least by me).

  18. Alysa says:

    Once again Raven You have failed to not impress me! Your work is superior and for lack of a better word beautiful! Love always Alysa!

  19. Pure Unadulterated Evil says:

    This Poem 'Open Fire' is beyond positive description. Its perfect in so many ways and felt by everyone! Thanx

  20. Erica Lee says:

    this is a great poem. I can really relate to what you've written here and thats the best thing about it, you've touched home, not only with yourself, but with many other people.I respect that in writing.

  21. mizzorie says:

    raven , what happen to you that made you write such deep poems ?
    i write poems and things have happen to me that i could never had forgotten. so just talk to me cuz im in the same book as you , that they cant look us in the face

  22. Jen says:

    I love this poem, I can completely understand the feeling of wanting something that was to remain, if only in your mind. I especially love your writing style, it entrances me more with each line. You truly have an extrodinary gift, and i thank you eternally for sharing it with the world.

  23. Lily says:

    Wow. You're such an inspiration to us small poets everywhere. This poem shows me what love was, and what it turned into. It brings back memories, that I'd long since forgotten. Thank You. -Lily J. Sumner

  24. Kronic says:

    That was a great one, I enjoyed it very much.
    This one reminds me of the way I feel for this one girl in my life, keep up the good work!

  25. Angel Of Death says:

    wow…that describes how i feel..but i cant say ive never burnt love letters it kind of eases the pain

  26. Yvette says:

    I loved the poem, it was so real and I relate to it.

  27. Nancy says:

    I realy liked this poem. It's almost like what I went threw.

  28. HopelesslyAlone says:

    hey i really like ur poem. I can relate becuz i've gone through the same kind of heart ach. Im sry so many people have to experience it becuz we all know it sux. Well good job. XxAndreaxX

  29. morbid queen says:

    i totally loved your poem!ok so its the first one i've read from you,but i still loved it.i-i just have to go cry blood now because that has happened to me so many times.

  30. Boo says:

    yea i think this is one of ur best work cause alot of ppl can relate to this one cause i know alot of ppl have went through the same thing and i know i have and it sucks ass so yea good job

  31. tOrmEnTed_SoUL says:

    i thinks its a bit over rated in a sence but i do understand it totally. It's about un-requited love. I think many people have gone through it. I just think that there was too much comparison to smoke and fire. It expressed your feelings well but it wasnt quit creative enough to me. good job though.

  32. shitt6on6dark6fairy says:

    beutiful so deep +motionful almost made me feel emotions again(only can hope to fucked up to care or feel anymore)realy good done the same thing myself wierd but beeutiful wierd is beutiful

  33. morbid morticia says:

    Beautiful! Some things in this work of art are things that have been said to me though the situation was more complex than thatand i am now in a situation where I can make someone feel enough pain to want to burn those love letters and I must say I agree with Dan (december 11). After the part about love disappearing , the poem really comes together and moves and touches the soul. As I said Beautiful!

  34. rinkablinka says:

    this is just like my life. i hurt someone really bad and i still love her so much it hurts. we don't get along much anymore tho because she has a new girlfriend, and her girlfriend and i used to be really good friends and now we are enemies. this is a very good poem keep up the work. i read them all the time.

  35. georgie says:

    Your poem was well written but somehow it didn't manage to attack those thoughts inside, even thought that is the hardest thing about writing, Open Fire doesn't captivate me. Maybe i'm just not in the mood, or maybe you're not feeling what you write.

  36. Jay says:

    Maybe Georgie, you didn't write it and can't sympathise with the emotion? Your Comment is slightly rude and nugatory.. It's an amazing poem and seems to describe feelings I've never been able to.. You're a talented writer.

  37. lloyd AKA GOTHICLOVA says:

    ITS GREAT ! KEEP ^ THE GOOD WORK

  38. Reuben says:

    Dude, lets just put it this way. If your poem was a women. It would be a very hot woman.

  39. Vanessa says:

    Your poem is great! I don't see why people are being rude about it! I burned all of my ex's things and I know how he felt so I understand how you must feel! I hope maybe things will work out for you two!

  40. morbius says:

    As of all the poems I read by Raven they are all very beuitiful. This one had me thinking of the past when I had been torn apart in a relationship; rejected and ignored by the woman I loved dearly.

  41. sami says:

    hey, i just read this poem, and like everything else you write, i think it was great, you write really beautiful poems! It is very emotinal, and i have gone through alot like that, so iwas read y to cry, well yea…………..itw as great

    XxSamixX

  42. Adam says:

    this poem reminds me of alot of hurtful\nice memories keep doing poems like this more often.. i like this 1

  43. jess says:

    hey, keep writting poems like this it really good! I like it it reminds me of a lot of things..

  44. Liz says:

    Open Fire is an extraordinary poem that truly expresses a bitterly, broken heart. Many people have experienced such a loss, but no one can put it into words quite like a true poet. This is true poetry.

  45. Jennifer says:

    Amazing!! That was so totally inspiring! I love your work and wow is what your doing grreat!!\

    B-E-A-utiful!!

    Chow!

  46. april says:

    i love this poemt is one of my my favoriots! i love the way your peotry creats a picture in my mind and how it tells a story!

  47. Courtney says:

    You summed up the feelings of my love life perfectly! Thank You! This poem is amazing.

  48. Otsego says:

    this is now my second favorite poem of yours, Raven. It is only second to Angel, and only becaues I am currently going through a break-up with someone who I am in love with. It touches the deepest part of what is left of my heart, and gives me hope. Thank you.

  49. Valkyrie December Mercy says:

    This, though not entirely correct as it was in my life, it still a reality to me. I am once again inspire. You are a literary genius.

  50. Shawna says:

    That was a great poem and it turly touched me because I have been in the same boat but that was a year and a half ago and the guy that made me see it has left town twice and come back to me and we are now getting married so just hold on to hope and refuse to let go and eventually they'll come back to you!

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