Fire Stones

[poliphilo]

Another archaeology poem.

The stones were- I think- quartzite and someone had brought them into class to demonstrate how people in the Stone Age might have started a fire. 

                                    FIRE STONES

 

                                    You wrap the quartzy stones in wool,

                                    Knock 'em together; they'll give you fire.

 

                                    The classroom is all hush and dark.

                                    I knock and raise the ghost-green light

 

                                    That's gone as quick as the meteorite

                                    I saw scrawl over Pegasus.

 

                                    Did I see it or did I think it?

                                    I sniff the stones.  They smell of burn.