Campfire

As we gather in the gloaming to shed the day’s despair,
the flickering wings of firelight heat up the evening air.
Good omens dispel shadows and chase away the dark
as the laughter of our comrades drowns out the wild beast’s bark.
In this camaraderie—friendship’s surrounding bubble,
thoughts of ghosts and demons are unfathomable.
At the end of day, this gathering’s a cunning
way to celebrate the end of a day of sunning.
Cool night soothes sunburned skin, providing us the balm
of release from labor and a welcome to the calm
arms of night that furnishes a cradle to the day
and a time to tuck its problems all away,
first in conversation with those who love us most,
and then in sleep, that afterwards is our loving host.

An ominous number breeds ominous words! The Word prompts for Wordle 666 are: demons, wings, flickering, heat, omen, dark, end, cunning, shadows, unfathomable, gloaming, despair. I have tried to try to counter their obvious intent  in my poem.

Here is some information about how the number 666 came to be the “number of the beast.”

*The number 666 is identified as the Number of the Beast (Satan) as mentioned in the Book of Revelation (13:15–18).

*An interesting sideline to the number 666 is this: “On Friday, the Dow Jones industrial average plummeted 666 points. And while that news might be disturbing in a financial way, to people with an interest in, say, money and American markets, that fact was overshadowed on Twitter by the shadow of the beast, the Lord of the Underworld, the Devil himself. Because, you know, 666 is the mark of the beast, which, no big deal, identifies followers of the Antichrist.”
— Lizzy Acker, OregonLive.com, 2 Feb. 2018

*And this: “Preterist theologians typically support the interpretation that 666 is the numerical equivalent of the name and title Nero Caesar (Roman Emperor 54–68 AD). Written in Aramaic, this can be valued at 666 using the Hebrew numerology of gematria, and was used to secretly speak against the emperor.”

So, in writing this poem, I’ve tried to turn 666 on its head and to transform it into 999. If you Google that number, this is what you will find:

• Angel number

  In numerology, 999 is a repeating number that some say is a sign from the universe, ancestors, or spirit guides. It can symbolize completion and new beginnings, and can have different meanings depending on the area of life it’s applied to:

  • Relationships: Old loves may reappear, but the romance may be ill-fated. It can also mean bringing closure to relationships and making way for new opportunities.
  • Career: It can signal a crossroads professionally, with new job opportunities or projects in your current workplace. It can also mean accepting the outcome, whatever it may be.
  • General: It can mean trusting the process of how your life is shaping out, and not getting caught up in drama. It can also be a reminder to connect with your higher self and explore your spiritual journey more deeply.

  The photo is actually a photo I took of a campfire where friends met to share music and poetry. I have always wondered if the shape of the fire at this point didn’t spell out a word in Hebrew or some other unknown (to me) language. What do you see in the flame?