The January challenge subject will be posted when Val has picked the winner for December who will choose it.

thanks Gilly

Sorry Folks, have been busy.
Thank you all for your entries, it was a difficult decision to make.

After much though & deliberation,
I chose Rowan's poem.

Over to you, Rowan.

Congratulations Rowan, and apologies too, as we haven't been able to get in touch with you.
So I have asked Val to pick another person to set the challenge for January.

Good luck everyone.
Gilly

Thank you Gilly, I'll go back to December & reread them.

Doreen, I have chosen yours to take Rowan's place as he doesn't seem to be around.
I did like it as well.
Congratulations & over to you.

So sorry Doreen, but as Rowan is back, I feel he should do the challenge as I did pick his poem first.

Rowan, Congratulations again & over to you.

Ok, well, with apologies to all for a fumbling and very late start for January, I set the following as your challenge for the month:

FIRE

I thought this would help to keep us all warm...

Dreaming by the fire

I’m sitting near a cosy fire, on long winter nights
Just watching dancing flames, orange and red lights
So close near the fire, I will just sit and dream
Not of the winter but a different scene.

I am dreaming of the forthcoming spring
When all snow has gone and I hear birds sing
I also dream of flowers sprouting from the ground
With a profusion of colourful blossom all around.

Now I dream of golden days and the changing trees
Watching as the autumn leaves are swaying in the breeze
I dream of red roses and a walk by the sea
As I sit near the fire, that’s where I’d love to be.

I know we must have the seasons as they appear
Even if some of them do fill you with despair.
So as I sit and dream near my warm fire
I still do wish our cold winter will soon expire

Doreen E Hampshire

From the Icy Grip of Britain January 2010

Just wanted to say Karen, your poem burned out all thoughts I had, excellent, not sure I can follow that. !

well steve you managed to write a masterpiece as usual

I moved house recently and thats what we found behind a very old gas fire
and I love it, never had a real open fire before and it was something I had
wished for

huggs
karenxx

All the poems here are brilliant.
I still can't write anything, though I have tried.

Fire!

"Fire!" they screamed as it seared the evening,
flames wild leaping toward the sky.
"Fire!" they yelled and ran for cover.
explosions heard by the passers-by.
Firetruck screeched along the highway,
shrieking news to the listening town,
carrying its load to quench the inferno,
water for raging blaze to drown.

He was the first man into the building,
explosion hit him with all its force.
They dragged him from the conflagration;
loss of comrade evoked remorse.
Years of fighting fires had ended,
fire, long his enemy and friend,
flame of life by fire extinguished,
fire victorious in the end.

Eunice, your poem is brilliant. Totally evokes the horror of a burning building & the brave fire fighter.

Created From Smoke

He’d grown tired,
weary with words,
with writing,
reciting,
wanting only
silence,
blank page,
then in black rage,
he took his manuscripts,
made a bonfire,
burnt them,
every one
gone to ash,
smouldering pile
softly smoking,
upwardly unfurling,
mesmerising,
creating,
he was waiting,
took ink,
fresh paper,
inspired
anew.

Gilly Jones

Wonderful Gilly Loved it

Super poem, Gilly, I agree with Doreen.

There are so many lovely poems for January. Well done everyone.

I choose Eunice's effort which appeals to me as the start of something good.

I felt it could have gone further by a couple of verses as a narrative or retrospective on the fallen fireman - but then brevity appeals to me as well and I'm often accused of it!

The standard was generally appallingly high and you must all stop showing me up or I'll send the boys round...

Thanks Rowan for judging the challenge, and congratulations Eunice!

I will make a link for the February challenge and look forward to reading Eunice's theme.