The Frost that sets Fire
They say you can’t find a needle
in a haystack—
but he swallows the haystack whole in fire,
sets a match to its dry throat,
watches the flames lick the sky.
And there—
the needle,
a glowing ember,
singed into submission.
He plucks it,
unflinching,
with hands cold
bare
and beautiful—
a paradox of frost
in the furnace of his will.
@azurePond I love how unique all your poems are ^-^<3
Also this reminds me of him
@BlueDarkAurora Thank you so much BlueDarkAurora🥹....But Calcifer is a cutie patootie💖..far from an evil psych0😭.. but yeah the fire that swallows everything image fits
@azurePond He does look the part ^-^ (cute..not the other one). I haven't seen the film yet but it's on my list.
@BlueDarkAurora it's such a wonderful movie! Oh, to be loved the way Howl loves Sophie! Its also incredibly calming.....like all Ghibli films, it truly touches the heart ✨
@azurePond
@BlueDarkAurora 
@azurePond so here we have our very own azure who again bewitched us all with her fantabulous writing. i'll forever be a fan of this girl who's like a flambeau, setting fire with whatever she writes. i love this.<3
@suu1309 Coming from a fellow poet, this means even more ✨ Words have their own fire and I’m grateful ours can spark and connect....Here’s to setting the world ablaze with poetry! 🔥
@azurePond partners in crime and poetry bud<3
@azurePond
I always look forward to reading your work. Once again, I’m in awe. It’s time to publish a poetry book azure. 👀
@twerp That means so much to me, Twerp! 🥹 Also...from one poet to another—I just read your latest piece and I loved it. Amazing job! ✨
@azurePond
I hope you will forgive the delay in my commenting on your work. I assure you that your poems are always eagerly looked forward to, and can only blame my distracted self.
Once again you have crafted another amazingly potent yet obfuscated character. It reminded me a lot of 'Force Majeure' and 'A Feather in the River'. I found it quite unsettling. There is an immediacy generated by the short lines and frequent stressed syllables which compliments the aggressive metaphors. It makes the subject of the poem seem all the more unstoppable and dangerous maybe?
The use and exploration of the idiom of a needle in a haystack is very artful. It makes the subject seem not only powerful and destructive, but also somehow elevated. Where we would toil at the near impossible task to find the needle, he 'gulps' it down effortlessly. Where one would need to sift fastidiously and with care, he brings destruction to get at his goal.
The dichotomy of suggested fury by the imagery of fire and annihilation versus the calculated and frigid imagery of intentional action gives the subject a further elemental quality. I cannot escape the notion of a sort of deific amorality. This sense is brought into focus by the almost reverential tone of the last stanza: "With hands cold bare and beautiful -" As if one is held in thrall by the power of this being of force and detached callousness.
The last two lines capture the whole essence so perfectly and bring the dualistic qualities into sharp focus. It is magnificent. I dread to think whom this person might be.
@BastionKnight Your analysis is incredible and I love how deeply you engage with the layers of the poem. The comparison to Force Majeure makes sense… though I had forgotten about A Feather in the River. I see how you connect it with that character.
I don’t want to say you’re wrong—because, as I always say, there are no wrong interpretations in poetry—but since I appreciate you and the effort you put into analysis.... I’ll give you a clue. A Feather in the River is about a person who literally cant feel empathy. Is he dangerous? Maybe. But he isn’t hostile—it is the rest of the world and the people around him who are hostile towards him. Its like that feeling of unease when someone doesn’t react the way they’re "supposed" to.
The Force Majeure character, on the other hand, can feel emotions—he just chooses not to act on them. I also just remembered another poem of mine.....though I’ve forgotten the title (is this what people mean by "suffering from success?") It was the one about a photograph and a revelation... about feeling guilt without having committed a sin… That is also about this character.
@azurePond
Thank you for your message. I apologise if my meaning was unclear. I did not mean to suggest that this poem was about the characters in the other two poems i mentioned, but rather how the subject if this poem reminded of the intensity of their descriptions and their complicated qualities.
I presume the other poem you mentioned is 'Guilty, without Sin'? or is it 'The Revelation'? (Both are firm favourites).
@BastionKnight Please don’t apologise....if anyone should apologise, it’s me. I dont even remember what I write sometimes (I remember the lines and the emotions ..but titles are still a mystery to me) which feels callous compared to how you treat my work. I admire you Sir Knight.. even if you say one of my poems is rubbish—I respect your opinion.
Now... what I meant was that there are two characters: one is cold because they can’t know, feel or create warmth, and the other is cold because they choose to be in the cold. But yeah...you’re right—both are intense characters. Neither is purely good or bad, both are ambitious, both have an evil streak, and both are complex people.
And yes.... the two poems you mentioned are indeed about the character in this poem.
@azurePond @BastionKnight YOU BOTH ARE GENUISES. im so astonished and overwhelmed to see how deeply you both write poetry and how deeply you both feel it. the way you two guys delve into the enigma of words is something im a huge fan of. wish i could be even half as great as you two guys in this matter. i adore you both a lot<3
@suu1309 Thank you so much, Suu! That truly means a lot to me. I’m a huge fan of your work—you’re a genius, and it shows in your poetry, especially in the way you bring a philosophical depth to everyday things.
That being said, I already think you’re amazing. Hear me out—I may not be a professional poet but I was trained in poetry. I studied literature and journalism and beyond that (I’m not saying this to boast, it’s not something I take pride in) I come from a family of published poets, scholars and writers—though not in English (mostly). From a young age everything I wrote or said was dissected and critiqued... almost like training. So in a way except for the emotions in my poems, my poetry isn’t entirely organic. But you—Zen, Suu, Sir Knight, Twerp, Determined Sea—all of you are incredible because poetry is your passion and each of your styles is something raw, authentic, and unmanufactured. In a way, I feel like the Kardashian of poetry—an industry plant. Sure, I may have intellect and maybe some talent (unlike the Kardashians), not as much as passion but I was trained. And thats why I want you to know this... the more you write, the better you’ll get—far beyond me—because even untrained, you already write soooo so beautifully. In fact I look up to all of you. I admire the way Twerp plays with structure and imageries, Sir Knight’s mythical elements and effortless rhymes (makes you guess between whats said and not), Zen’s powerful portrayal of perseverance and hope and the way you find poetry in everything—from a rabbit race to stale chips. I’m in awe of Determined Sea’s raw, unflinching depiction of rock bottom and how Tiny Whisper, despite not writing often still manages to leave an impact. Also, Slow decline's haikus which can range from social commentary to individual experiences. Every poet in 7Cups teaches me something and I genuinely mean that. Everyone is a genius in their own way, and I don’t say that just to sound humble (I believe this)—I truly read and connect with all of you... We are all poets here !
@azurePond Apologies—I completely forgot to mention Pine Tree! I absolutely love how they weave science into poetry so seamlessly. And Newbie Wanderer, with their beautiful blend of Hindi and English, creates such a unique and captivating style. There are so many more incredible poets too
@azurePond
*Grateful beyond words*. Thank you azure! This community is by far one of my favorites. I’d have to agree I wouldn’t be the poem I am without reading the works here. *Grins* 🌞🤍
I’d also like to recognize my poetry buddy @Orange64 , his dedication to writing even with such little time to do so is something I admire a lot. They’re always well put together and interesting to read as well, it’s easy to tell the care put into his work. (Go read his second poem “The Real Smile” it’s a treat.) 🍊
@twerp Oh I have read Orange's poems and I have seen them upvote mine... Their name just slipped my mind
@suu1309
*Is so moved that I can only bow stoically and offer a sincere and grateful smile*
@azurePond
For one dreadful second I thought I had said something which made you think i had insulted your poem. I was absolutely mortified, (as I adore your work...which I might have hinted at just a little *smiles*), until i realised "even IF you say one of my poems" was a hypothetical and not a note on something I had said. Phew *wipes away metaphorical cold sweat* relief.
It is a hypothetical, yes? (If not, for whatever might have given you the impression I did not like something, I hope you will see it was unintentional. And know that I will take a page from Dobby's book and shall iron my fingers in contrition. Naughty fingers!)
@BastionKnight Oh no worries at all! It was absolutely a hypothetical ..... no hidden messages or secret critiques I promise! 😊 The mere thought that you might have felt mortified makes me want to give you a big reassuring hug (and confiscate that metaphorical iron before your poor fingers suffer!!!)
I really appreciate your kindness and the way you adore my work .... it genuinely means a lot. So... no cold sweat needed! We're all good! smiles back warmly.