Of Magic and Fire

Found poems written using Christopher Pike’s Magic Fire as a source text, part of The Poeming IV.

[ofmagicandfire]

I Want to Vomit

in his Face

Between you and me,

I hate to hear,

“He just doesn’t know

how to take no for an answer.”

Crisis! Time not to like him,

up to something wrong.

Be going out. Out!

Nice talking to you.

The Poeming IV Poem 31

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 8. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Alter Course

Let it be

out of control—

reality, past—

finally accept their stories.

Put to bed attachment,

memories—nothing but

bright stars shimmering in dust.

The Poeming IV Poem 30

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 196. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

In Pain

The head was fire.

“How do you feel?”

Down the black tunnel.

I can’t carry a smile.

I’ll be all right.

The Poeming IV Poem 29

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 77. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Intensity

Start on the other side,

before the hospital,

awakened in the night,

the experience a blur

of hallucinogenic BS,

reality strangely altered,

didn’t want to be

driving to the hospital.

Had to.

The Poeming IV Poem 28

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 51. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

A Form of SOS

Truth will never work

if people are well behaved.

None of them imagine

unethical things

are so advanced.

Enemies give no warning.

Stop hibernation.

Kill the deal.

Be bold.

The Poeming IV Poem 27

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 182. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Salvageable Places

Make a home

a safe haven.

Live without fear

in abundance.

Watch out,

keeping close by

always that power

you have in love.

The Poeming IV Poem 26

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 212. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Shook

I don’t believe

and couldn’t, knew

it wasn’t real. Escape

wasn’t luck, was to pull

farther from the fire

like smoke tracks~~

can’t go back.

Don’t blame me.

The Poeming IV Poem 25

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 217. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

In Your Head

Hold fast. It will end

if it should.

When you’re done,

just keep trying.

Moods move.

Thought is able to stop.

Let it.

The Poeming IV Poem 24

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 24. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Subtler Realms of Matter

Outside, listening

to rhythm expanding

sanity, not with discussion;

breathing deeply, moved

in full awareness.

The rain waved.

The Poeming IV Poem 23

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 164. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Desperation

We couldn’t admit how

much hope did not remain. Waiting

spread the disease. More

was a relative term

when breathing

was unbearable.

When he didn’t die,

he didn’t believe.

The Poeming IV Poem 22

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 9. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Beyond Hope

Failure is isolated; control

is false hope. Attitude spoke.

Think of the function

in illusion—real life.

The Poeming IV Poem 21

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 149. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Gutted

A reasonable thing

at a time like this—drown,

but we’re no longer

the doomsayers, foresaw

what happened from outer space.

Intensity burst us. Our brains

were unable to crack. We cannot

be broken, can travel between

stars back home.

The Poeming IV Poem 20

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 141. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

The Fires We Start

Humans have invaded

and conquered the world,

spread against their existence.

No deal like that. You have

to back up immediately.

There is the matter.

Heal, we could. Have you

been observing?

The Poeming IV Poem 19

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 95. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

A Bitter Price

A habit of falling

senselessly was life.

The sands of time went on.

Jumping—the way to endure

heading into chaos.

The Poeming IV Poem 18

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 4. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Start the Fire

Small fires create

conditions

that the wicked,

easily withering,

could not stop.

The Poeming IV Poem 17

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 55. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Cross the Land

A door offered, already

here, stood eclipsed

by shadows, dissected

experiences, memory

so vast the world knew

them not. Believe.

Tell your story.

The Poeming IV Poem 16

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 49. Print.

[ofmagicandfire]

Over and Over

Vampirish silence

could make a person feel

alone,

crushed

by mood swings,

unstable,

but getting by.

The Poeming IV Poem 15

Process: Erasure

Source: Pike, Christopher. Magic Fire. New York: New York, 1999. 3. Print.