{"id":314,"date":"2024-12-17T14:18:11","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T20:18:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/?p=314"},"modified":"2024-12-17T14:18:11","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T20:18:11","slug":"quiet-fire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/12\/17\/quiet-fire\/","title":{"rendered":"Quiet Fire"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\"><em>I found the opening stanza of this one in an old poetry notebook. (I have a lot of those.) And decided to finish it out. It may be a bit early in the day for the cozy sleepy mood, but I hope you enjoy it.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A crackling hearth, warm and bright<br \/>\nGentle voices in the velvet night<br \/>\nFamily and friends gather \u2018round<br \/>\nWhile wind and fire are the loudest sound.<\/p>\n<p>Children nod one by one<br \/>\nQuiet voices ramble on<br \/>\nIn the dark the stars shine bright<br \/>\nAnd the wind alone sings tonight.<\/p>\n<p>The cat sleeps soundly by the hearth<br \/>\nNo mice have stirred to seek its warmth<br \/>\nStill the voices murmur on<br \/>\nBut fall away as night drifts on.<\/p>\n<p>So the moon sets her sail<br \/>\nAnd watches o\u2019er the rooftops pale.<br \/>\nHearthfire embers their watching keep<br \/>\nWhile all the house drifts off to sleep.<\/p>\n<p><em>Quite Fire<\/em> copyright \u00a9 Heather Strickler 2024 all rights reserved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I found the opening stanza of this one in an old poetry notebook. (I have a lot of those.) And decided to finish it out. It may be a bit early in the day for the cozy sleepy mood, but I hope you enjoy it. A crackling hearth, warm and bright Gentle voices in the&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/12\/17\/quiet-fire\/\">Read More <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Quiet Fire<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[14,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-poetry","category-writing"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Quite-Fire.jpg?fit=600%2C600","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/parUcj-54","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":530,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2026\/01\/26\/falling-of-night\/","url_meta":{"origin":314,"position":0},"title":"Falling of Night","author":"Heather","date":"January 26, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Something more gentle than most have been of late. Softly falls the darkness, tucking in the day. Evening sings a lullaby and softly drifts away. The restful moon still watches over house and home, And even subtle starlight refuses to roam. The windows are all shuttered in the lantern light,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/FallingofNight.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/FallingofNight.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/FallingofNight.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":335,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/02\/18\/keeping-out-the-cold\/","url_meta":{"origin":314,"position":1},"title":"Keeping Out the Cold","author":"Heather","date":"February 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Something warm for a cold day. Winter wind howls boldly and shakes the rafters tall, Yet no wind can quell the fire, nor the joy within the hall. Round food and drink we gather, voice raised up in song And eat and drink together, though some avoid the throng! In\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Keep-out-the-Cold.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Keep-out-the-Cold.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Keep-out-the-Cold.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":328,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/02\/12\/between_burdens\/","url_meta":{"origin":314,"position":2},"title":"Between Burdens","author":"Heather","date":"February 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A little melancholy, but I hope something that brings peace as well. A silver fall of ash drifts on a golden breeze While the frosty winter wind carries autumn leaves. A quiet soul disturbed by the changing of the tides Looks out to where the light quietly subsides. No fairies\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Between-Burdens.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Between-Burdens.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Between-Burdens.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":387,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/05\/06\/winter-wings\/","url_meta":{"origin":314,"position":3},"title":"Winter Wings","author":"Heather","date":"May 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"An odd one for spring but sometimes something hits me. I hope you enjoy it. Wings of frost settle down to form a silver veil. The raven spreads the starry night over hill and dale. The trees shake off their last sad leaves, winter settles in. And all the wood\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wings-of-Winter.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wings-of-Winter.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Wings-of-Winter.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":439,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/03\/the-mad-king\/","url_meta":{"origin":314,"position":4},"title":"The Mad King","author":"Heather","date":"September 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Something one of my novel worlds poked to life. The crushing weight of duty Like irons weighing down The love of kin and country Pile lead upon the crown. While his heart seeks out an answer His mind is giving in. Not to pride or to hubris Nor to bright\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":353,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/03\/11\/gloaming-of-the-heart\/","url_meta":{"origin":314,"position":5},"title":"Gloaming of the Heart","author":"Heather","date":"March 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Because we all have those moments. There is always hope. In the gloaming of the heart When sorrows seem to prey Do not surrender to despair. The soul will find a way. Whether we are lived high To celestial courts above Or our hope dawns again And find hearth, home,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Poetry&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gloaming-of-the-Heart.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gloaming-of-the-Heart.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Gloaming-of-the-Heart.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=314"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":316,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/314\/revisions\/316"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}