CRACKLE N' GLOW (NaNoWriMo Day 18 HWR)

CRACKLE N'GLOW

It was bonfire night! The winters were delightfully cold and the warmth from flames was equally welcome. As the sparks flew into the night sky like orange-gold stars in the hope to meet their diamond brethren, the flames crackled and danced away in celebration of this star-studded night. The winter chill sizzled as the golden halo spread heat on our palms and in our hearts. The fiery orange in our backyard made it seem like the sun had settled in there instead of disappearing behind the mountains.

Dad chopped the branch of fir into twigs with precise rhythmic swings of his axe.

Mother set up chopping boards and sliced potatoes into thick circular wedges, wrapped them in foils along with sweet snow peas and tossed them into the bonfire. How my brothers and I loved roast potatoes as midnight suppers. Our faces had lit up with the frisson of pure joy on that starry December night. It was a wild night, a night of adventure.

We weren't affluent enough, so we spread out sleeping bags on the porch and the lawn and pretended we were out on a camping trip in the woods or by the lake. The snow-peaked mountains in the distance stood mute witness and sentinel to our camaraderie and bonhomie until the first rosy rays of dawn shimmered beyond…

The flickering embers of the logs that had looked like fire-fairies igniting the roaring flames, had taken a courtesy bow and turned into drab grey cinder ash and silvery dust.

I knew deep down in my heart that these would be mere memories and somewhere down the line, would curate many nostalgically steeped writings.

Pic Courtesy:Pixabay

©️ Sangeetha Kamath

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'OWL'TASTIC

' OWL' TASTIC He sits in solitude as the sun slips by Rousing from deep sleep as the moon rises high Now is his time to party and play With a hoot of delight he's set out to catch his prey Swooping on rats and cubs of tiny critters His noiseless wings span the fields, woods and pastures Wise old owl is his title to this day Black, white or brown, they're endearing creatures so I say Keeping him as a pet is a hearts delight When they cuddle up to you in the blinding sunlight Turning his head all the way, he's powerful and elegant—an acrobat of the skies! ©️ Sangeetha Kamath Pic Courtesy:Pixabay

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The night was restless, silent and too long Excitedly waiting for a new dawn to arrive with her chirpy song Shedding the sable cloak off her shoulders Darkness rolls from the arms of the moon alabaster Brave is the sky when the moon disappears Vanishing from sight, the twinkling stars too coyly obscures Wriggling like a newborn from a fleece blanket The rays washes the frills of clouds in crimson and scarlet Gauzy shimmer appears on the horizon And I see a sliver of crest of the rising sun Gliding across the sky lazily, the tangerine fireball shimmers brightly Rising over treetops and bathing the rooftops nascently The air is perfumed as buds and blooms joyously unfurl The mild gusts of breeze ruffles the waves of my tousled curls The apricot sky breaks into splashes of colors, ribbons and streaks I watch the new day waltz in to paint all my dreams. ©️ Sangeetha Kamath Image by Calla Negra from Pixabay

Sangeetha Kamath

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