The Useful Fire

We sat before the open fire,

     Which threw a glaring light;

It snapped and crackled very loud,

     And made me nervous quite.

“I do not like your open fires,”

     I said to her at last;

She looked beyond the open door,

     Then low her tones were cast:

“I like them very, very much,

     All kissing sounds, you see,

Pa thinks are caused by burning wood,”

     That angel said to me.

July 30, ‘05