Christmas poetry competition 2023

Magical winter Nights

It was my whole world. It was light. It was warmth. It was my final chance.

It’s small ring of fire was all I had. I stared at it, and it slowly filled my vision. It danced a blue ballet through the frozen air. Twisting, turning, a flowing theatre of desperation. The spouts of blue gas cast drunken shadows on the canvas. Time slowed, spread, each second lasted a lifetime. Its flame became all I knew. Had been for hours. All food I had to cook on it was long gone. I was on the clock. As the final sputters died, and the darkness returned my makeshift tent. The slight breeze chilled me down to my bones. I curled up hugging what was my last hope. God it was cold.

By Will Naylor