trinkie
15-Aug-07, 07:38
Lamps
from 'A Highland Farm Childhood'
by Madeline Munro
Before the dark we rushed to organise
the lamps, brought paraffin in cans,
and grumbled when the funnel slipped, oil
running its engine smell across the dresser top.
With screwed-up newspaper, quick puff and blow
we shone the globes, trimmed wicks, set lanterns
and the candles out, then pumped the fickle Tilley,
new-fangled with its priming meths, its mantle -
dust at a touch. But more of ritual still
to watch at Uncle Fred's while Wakle
brought the tall Aladdin lamp, to wait
agog the magic hum, see spread the small
blue circling flame, witness the startling
breaking of that new white light.
from 'A Highland Farm Childhood'
by Madeline Munro
Before the dark we rushed to organise
the lamps, brought paraffin in cans,
and grumbled when the funnel slipped, oil
running its engine smell across the dresser top.
With screwed-up newspaper, quick puff and blow
we shone the globes, trimmed wicks, set lanterns
and the candles out, then pumped the fickle Tilley,
new-fangled with its priming meths, its mantle -
dust at a touch. But more of ritual still
to watch at Uncle Fred's while Wakle
brought the tall Aladdin lamp, to wait
agog the magic hum, see spread the small
blue circling flame, witness the startling
breaking of that new white light.