Thursday 30 September 2010

doomed if I do, doomed if I don't












an adornment now- 
I sit on the side-table 
rueing my wick less days
I want the dark nights
with only me as a light

the blue you see
is a smudge on me
my yellow base
wants to catch fire
silently watching the wires

if you can't use me
why don't you break me
I would prefer to be buried
in earthy soil, 
water soothing my fire

"get a wick and let me get on with it"

35 comments:

  1. Beautiful poem Gautami..liked the lines "I want the dark nights with only me as light"... I wonder whether these feelings go beyond the lamp as well... Nice mag

    ReplyDelete
  2. I like this very much. :-)

    "if you can't use me
    why don't you break me
    I would prefer to be buried
    in earthy soil,
    water soothing my fire"

    Nice Magpie!

    My Magpie

    ReplyDelete
  3. love your perspective of the lamp,
    powerful message,
    well put!

    ReplyDelete
  4. The pain of indifference & neglect, the loss of purpose & meaning in life!
    Well captured.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi gautami,your poem is very eye-catching and nice

    ReplyDelete
  6. wow such a strong poem for a lantern, amazing how ur thought process lead u to write this... Cheers!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I like that attitude: let me get on with it

    ReplyDelete
  8. indeed inverters and generators did steal the lamp's job but it's always a fun to sit under it. fine penned verses.

    ReplyDelete
  9. When lamps speak, we are all enlightened.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Heh... Martin H!!!!!

    I love how the lamp is silently watching the wires...

    remembering the days of wireless :)

    Rene

    ReplyDelete
  11. Nothing worse than a lamp without a wick. :) This is a great response to the prompt - love it!

    ReplyDelete
  12. You truly have a way with wrods, Gautami. I love the imagery and the emotion that was packed into this.

    This was really a treat to read. :]

    ReplyDelete
  13. Quite nice, Gautami. Quite nice, indeed.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Brings out the 'rueful'ness quite well:)

    Mine is still WIP.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Quite a predicament of the Lamp!
    Simply, Loved it!

    ReplyDelete
  16. To be unwanted and useless is about the worst thing that could happen to a person - and a lamp! Great poem. Thanks for visiting my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Interesting, creative poem. Yet I'm reminded of Milton's line from his poem "On His Blindness," "They also serve who only stand and wait."

    My favorite line of your poem is "ruing my wickless days." It's a fine unexpected twist on "wicked ways."

    ReplyDelete
  18. Really like this..I too have been known to be the single wick..maybe next time?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for stopping by. This is excellent. I love that you've told your tale of progress and growing pains through the lamp's viewpoint.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Just loved it.. beautiful..deep insight..Gautami..

    ReplyDelete
  21. Relic

    Passed by newer, brighter, colder flames.

    Left as decoration;

    Reminder of what has been left behind.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wow Have I felt like that before. Great job with this magpie.

    ReplyDelete
  23. This sounds like a trophy wife.

    ReplyDelete
  24. an adornment now-
    I sit on the side-table
    rueing my wick less days

    I think this is a good interpretation of old age! LOL :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love these lines:
    I want the dark nights
    with only me as a light

    ReplyDelete
  26. I am so glad that you visited my magpie so that I could follow you to yours. Otherwise, I would never have found your beautiful poetry.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Painful, lonely start... to bring the beauty of the night.

    Lovely magpie.

    ReplyDelete
  28. "get a wick & let me get on with it" Ilike that.Is that a quote, or is it yours?

    ReplyDelete
  29. I absolutely love the way you write. It is such a pleasure to read your words. Nice Mag. Love and Light, Sender

    ReplyDelete
  30. oh i so feel for the lamp...feeling useless...you stir much in this short verse...excellent magpie!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Excellent. I just love the larger metaphor - *I* want the dark nights with only me as light too! :-)

    Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Beautiful piece! I know, I need to get a wick for this poor lamp! :)

    ReplyDelete