Coloured Flashcards

Bring me all your dreams
of splendid restful nights
flashes of inspiration
envy to your friends

Bring me all the flashers
especially the one
with sterling ideas
pinned
prized
a collector’s item
things colourful dreams
are made of

Bring them all!
Let’s create flutter fun
fantasy and nightmare
to dance with fire
for the witch must burn.

Note: We still burn effigies in Finnish countryside. That is, Easter & Midsummer Bonfires; a tradition carried over from pagan days. I found this practice peculiar at first but nowadays I enjoy it, for reasons that have nothing to do with the tradition.

Also, I’m a list freak. I’ve got a number of ‘to-do’ lists going at the same time. I pick colour of flashcards (according to the mood) and write ideas, one-word triggers, one-liners, dialogue from my eavesdropping occupation and so on. They decorate my working space. One day I promise, I’ll peel them all off the wall and throw them to the fire. Imagine what peculiar fun that would be!

Khaya Ronkainen
Khaya Ronkainen is a writer, poet and creative professional. Her blog focuses on all things poetry and creative nonfiction.

23 Comments

  1. Lol…being oft times referred to as a witch, I am peculiar enough to enjoy your imagery and words. The scorching is worth the risk lol 😀 XXX

  2. I love how you incorporated the old with the new and told us why. Such rich imagery in this poem… crackling and bright like a bonfire in the middle of summer.

  3. It made this witch chuckle too (LOL, ah lists…I like making them. Following them is another story).

  4. Lol – the witch burning, Khaya ! I can remember going to the midsummer bonfire evenings with my family and having lots of fun.I was very young of course. I have no memory of witch effigies being burnt.

  5. Aha! Burning effigies is something we do for fun & bringing our small community together. The photo was taken this last Easter in Pohjois-Pohjanmaa:)

  6. I really like the poem, Khaya, but the witch effigy burning is a bit creepy! 😀 😀 I hope the witches in Finland aren’t offended. I have a few politicians I’d like to offer up instead 🙂

  7. Thanks Dianne! Don’t worry nothing offends witches, they can cast spells remember. But politicians, now that’s a thought:D

  8. I wasn’t aware of that tradition in Finland. It reminds me of a holiday I heard about in Guatemala called “Burning of the Devil” where they burn a giant devil pinata in the middle of the cities across the country.

  9. Yeah, paganism was the religion here during the pre-Christian period. And bonfire during Easter and Midsummer is still a tradition.

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