Playing with fire

 


Playing with fire

Watercolour painting and original poem by Kieran Gonsalves (c) 2025

Not for nothing tis oft said, 'Don't ever play with fire'
It invariably unleashes one's best and worst desires
Emperor Nero callously fiddled even as Rome was burning
Guy Fawkes in failure became the face of rebellion in yearning
God smote debased Sodom with balls of fire in sheer disgust
Vesuvius erupted sans warning, smothering Pompeii in dust
The wheel and fire once propelled the human race over apes
Craftsmanship bloomed with art of all colours and shapes
Instead of making ploughshares, we chose to make spears
Waging endless wars and driving Mother Earth to tears 
Pray, O Prometheus, what prompted you to gift us fire? 
Has it become the curse of the devil, our funeral pyre?

Footnote: The painting was an innocent throwback to my joyous Scouting days when we camped and cooked food on an open campfire. The poem took a darker turn when I started introspecting about the destructive uses of fire


Comments

Anonymous said…
Reflections leave us better most times.
God bless and thanks for today’s uplifting message. (WhatsApp comment from a very dear friend)
July 2, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Kieran said…
Art in it's purest form is meant to inform, entertain and sometimes to light a fire - Kieran
July 2, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Anonymous said…
This is more that prolific excellence. The idea, the execution and the enegy to do it on a regular basis.
When excellence meets discipline and mental strength
Keep going Kieran. We are appreciating and clapping. It may not be obvious all the time but yes, we are.
(WhatsApp comment from a dear cousin)
July 2, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Kieran said…
Thanks @⁨Albert da Costa⁩ - for being with me on this journey.

I started doing water colour for the first time in my life, at the pace of one-a-day, following the advice of my mentor - keeping it spontaneous and fun.

This exercise is extremely rewarding as it teaches me to live in the moment. Each day a blank sheet of paper to go with whatever catches my fancy

I have been blogging for some years now but the poetry thing is new.

Yesterday, one of Mum’s co-teachers said, ‘I haven’t met you in person but from your art and poetry, I can tell you are every bit Yvette’s son.’

That was so heartwarming to hear. God bless. - Kieran
July 2, 2025 at 5:47 AM
Anonymous said…
Another inspiring message champ, [your] painting is absolutely top of the pile👏🏼👏🏼 (WhatsApp message from another dear childhood friend)
July 2, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Kieran said…
Thanks heaps (I prefer heaps to piles which has a painful connotation 😅😁) - Kieran
July 2, 2025 at 5:56 AM
Anonymous said…
Beautiful (Short WhatsApp comment from an artistic friend who doesn't believe in long winded messages)
July 2, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Kieran said…
Thanks Sushmita. I blogged about one of my camping escapades at https://memoriesofpoona.blogspot.com/2023/03/picnics-of-poona-part-5-long-wai-from.html - Kieran
July 2, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Anonymous said…
You are good, Kieran...as an artist and poet👏👏👏👏👏 (WhatsApp comment from an artistic friend)
July 2, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Kieran said…
Thank you, Veronica. coming from an artistic person like you, I appreciate you sharing your feedback. Means a lot to me
Stay well
Kieran
July 2, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Anonymous said…
Kieran, in your poem you have captured fire from the dawn of time to today’s world.
Fire is a good servant, but a bad master.
Fire is a good purifier, as gold will attest.
Also saptapadi around the holy fire, solemnizes matrimony. (WhatsApp comment from an alumni group)
July 2, 2025 at 10:16 AM
Kieran said…
Thank you, @⁨~Anil Deora⁩. That’s what inspired the title. I was messing around with how fire has impacted humans - Kieran
July 2, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Anonymous said…
Wow! Thats truly a journey from joyous youth to a troubled traverse of history and legend... (WhatsApp comment from an artistic friend)
July 2, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Kieran said…
There’s so much to say on this topic, it’s a vast canvas - Kieran
July 2, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blue Bird

Image
My homage to Azulejos - the striking white and blue ceramic tiles of Portugal.  The name 'azulejos' is derived from the Arabic word 'al zuleique', which means “little polished stone”. The tiles were originally brought to Europe by invading Moors in the 13th century - a style that employs flowing lines, stars, flowers, foliage, fruits and sometimes animal and figural outlines to produce an intricate pattern of interlaced lines that can be tiled in endless combinations.   The art and history of azulejos have left an indelible mark on Portuguese culture and heritage. These vibrant and intricate tiles have adorned buildings, churches, and public spaces for centuries, captivating the eyes and hearts of locals and visitors alike.  The enduring legacy of Portuguese tile-making is a testament to the skill, creativity, and craftsmanship of the artisans who have dedicated themselves to this art form throughout history. This is one of my compositions inspired by a window decal at...
Read more

Pope Leo

Image
  Pope Leo XIV On Thursday, May 8, 2025, the Conclave of 133 Roman Catholic Cardinals elected a new Pope for 1.4 billion faithful, the  267th in the line of Pontiffs that dates back to St Peter, who was handpicked by Jesus Christ himself. [ Matthew 16:18 ] Before he was elected Pope Leo XIV, Chicago-born Cardinal Robert Frost Prevost spent  much of his life outside the United States. Ordained in Rome in 1982 at age 27, he received a doctorate in canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome.  For the past two decades he was a missionary in Chilayco, Peru, serving as a parish priest, seminary teacher, and diocesan official.  Here he also became a naturalized citizen, then rose to lead his international religious community, the Order of St. Augustine. Under Pope Francis, he held one of the most influential Vatican posts, running the office that selects and manages bishops globally. His deep connection to Latin America helped him gain a...
Read more

Pentecost

Image
 The Feast of Pentecost Think of the Feast of Pentecost as the first birthday of the Church ... because that's the day the Holy Spirit descended on the Faithful to remain permanently and unfailingly till the end of time, guiding the Faithful to carry the Gospel to the ends of the world as Christ's disciples. Liturgy of the Pentecost In Acts of the Apostles 1:4-8 , the risen Lord Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained that they would be baptised with the Holy Spirit not many days from now (1:5) and they would receive power to be Christ’s witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the Earth (1:8). In Acts of the Apostles 2:1-11 , St Luke, the author of Acts of the Apostles, methodically lists all the nations encircling Israel starting from the East to the West to show Jews from every nation had gathered (probably for the Festival of Harvest ) when th...
Read more