December 7th prompt from book girl fan: aflame
Aflame
A cold and crisp December evening,
Watson walking home in snow;
Cobwebs cleared from hectic clinic,
Stars above and ice below.
~0~
Looking forward to warm slippers,
Comfy chair and cup of tea.
Happy thoughts are rudely shattered;
Bells are clanging noisily.
~0~
Round the corner come careening
Horse, fire engine, hose and crew.
Shouts and hooves and general clamour;
A second follows, noisy too.
~0~
Watson stares, a grim suspicion
Forming in his weary mind;
When he reaches Baker Street,
What precisely will he find?
~0~
Earlier that winter's morning;
Peaceful, calm, domestic scene;
Holmes with fresh cut handsome fir tree.
( Lots and lots and lots of green.)
~0~
Final words to Holmes from Watson
"Decorate, as you desire,
But please, dear fellow, promise me
You will not set the tree on fire!"
~0~
Watson, now quite hot and bothered,
Pictures home and hearth right now;
Curtains scorched and carpet smoking
Holmes destroying one last vow.
~0~
Indignation burns and smoulders,
Comfy chair might well be charred,
Slippers two small heaps of ashes
Tea pot now a shattered shard.
~0~
Flaming anger builds as Watson
Works out what repairs might cost;
Stomps along the icy pavement
Cheeks glow red with ire and frost.
~0~
Incandescent now with fury;
Watson reaches Baker Street,
Steels himself for conflagration,
Sparks and soot he's bound to meet.
~0~
Stops, astounded; no inferno.
Nothing seems to be ablaze;
Cinders are not raining round him,
No surrounding smoky haze.
~0~
Instead, he sees two teams of firemen
Ladders propped up expertly,
Intent upon the task before them;
Two small kittens up a tree.
~0~
Watson sidles past the rescue;
Crimson cheeks and crimson ears,
Embarrassed by his quick assumptions,
False beliefs, unfounded fears.
~0~
Coat on hook, and cane in stand;
Watson opens parlour door
And there beholds the Christmas tree;
Festooned and splendid on the floor.
~0~
Slippers warming on the hearth;
Comfy chair, and cup of tea.
Holmes, a twinkle in his eye.
Friends and festive frippery.
~0~