He Lit a Fire with Icicles

He Lit a Fire with Icicles

By Kay Ryan b. 1945 Kay Ryan

For W.G. Sebald, 1944-2001

This was the work
of St. Sebolt, one
of his miracles:
he lit a fire with
icicles. He struck
them like a steel
to flint, did St.
Sebolt. It
makes sense
only at a certain
body heat. How
cold he had
to get to learn
that ice would
burn. How cold
he had to stay.
When he could
feel his feet
he had to
back away.

Kay Ryan, “He Lit a Fire with Icicles” from The Niagara River.  Copyright © 2005 by Kay Ryan.  Reprinted with the permission of Grove/Atlantic, Inc.  All rights reserved. Caution: Users are warned that this work is protected under copyright laws and downloading is strictly prohibited. The right to reproduce or transfer the work via any medium must be secured with Grove/Atlantic, Inc.

Source: Poetry (February 2005).

back to top

MORE FROM THIS ISSUE

This poem originally appeared in the February 2005 issue of Poetry magazine

View this poem in its original format

February 2005

More about this poem

Kay Ryan

Biography

Born in California in 1945 and acknowledged as one of the most original voices in the contemporary landscape, Kay Ryan is the author of several books of poetry, including Flamingo Watching (2006), The Niagara River (2005), and Say Uncle (2000). Her book The Best of It: New and Selected Poems (2010) won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Ryan's tightly compressed, rhythmically dense poetry is often compared to that of Emily . . .

Continue reading this biography

back to top

Poems by Kay Ryan

back to top

Poem Categorization

SUBJECT Living, Religion, Christianity, Arts & Sciences

POET’S REGION U.S., Western

If you disagree with this poem's categorization, make a suggestion.

back to top

Related

Audio Video Articles Events

Report a problem with this poem


Your results will be limited to content that appeared in Poetry magazine.

Search Every Issue of Poetry

Originally appeared in Poetry magazine.

This poem has learning resources.

This poem is good for children.

This poem has related video.

This poem has related audio.