[John Whitworth]

Light as air, Roger! Here's mine. A bit too stolid perhaps.

The Bonfire and the Compost Heap

I coruscate and flash.
My consequence is ash.

I brood in quietude.
I am a multitude.

Here, there and everywhere.
I dance as light as air.

I brood. I breathe a breath
Of life, and life in death.

I am the great bow-bender
Who lives and dies in splendour.

The more you fret and shout,
The sooner you go out.

My arrows light the sky.
They purge and purify.

But I remain, in rain
And sun, in sun and rain.

[Roger Slater]

I'm hot.
I burn.
I roil.
I smoulder.
My heart's ablaze.

I rot.
I turn.
I spoil.
I moulder.
My heart decays.

[John Whitworth]

Neat, Roger. This is a hard one. Only you me and Bazza, isn't it? And I'm shot. I can't do no more.

[Roger Slater]

Thanks, John. I've never won an Oldie, so anything to improve the odds.

This one is definitely hard. I'm still not convinced that a bonfire and a compost heap have enough in common to converse meaningfully, so the assignment seems a bit contrived.

I'm wondering if this slightly expanded version (adding four lines) of what I just posted might work, or if I should just stick with the shorter one:

THE BONFIRE AND THE COMPOST HEAP

I'm hot.
I burn.
I roil.
I smoulder.
My heart's ablaze.

I rot.
I turn.
I spoil.
I moulder.
My heart decays.

You're slow.
I'm fast.

You go.
I last.

[Roger Slater]

I just Googled bonfire and compost heaps and saw many pages telling us that bonfire ash makes a good addition to a compost heap, so now I wonder if this is the connection they were going for with this competition. I hope not, since it gives me no ideas.

[FOsen]

Most say the earth will end in fire,
some still say ice,
but the ire of many a denier
makes me think they favor fire.
Why argue, though? We won’t die twice.
Besides, with all the stuff we’ve got
I think that less might be as nice,
and hold with those who favor rot—
but not a lot.

Frank

[Jayne Osborn]

B: Hi, Compo, how are you? I’m glad we had that storm last night;
I’m soaked right through, thank goodness. I’ll be hard to set alight.

CH: I feel much better, thank you, now I don’t smell quite so rank.

B: That’s great to hear, my friend; we both have all that rain to thank.

CH: Don’t worry, Bonny, you’ll be here for ages, I’ve a hunch;
your predecessor stood for months. 'They' are a lazy bunch!

B: I hope you’re right. They hardly ever come to see us both.
It’s been at least a fortnight since I felt the slightest growth.

CH: I don’t know why they have us – but I’m very glad we’ve met.

B: Oh, so am I! ...and may I say... you’re charming when you’re wet.

CH: How kind. The guy before you had a nasty streak, I learned,
and, honestly, I felt a bit relieved when he was burned.

B: I think we’re both quite safe for now, they won’t spread you around
this messy garden. As for me... too muddy on the ground.

CH: Yes, we’re OK; down here’s a good position to be in;
far better than poor lonely, overloaded Wheelie Bin!