getting to what I want Will be slow going and mostly smoke

These logs, hacked so sloppily 

Their blonde grains resemble overdone poultry, 

Are too thick to catch. 

 

I crumple paper to encourage the flame, 

And for a brief moment everything is lit. 

 

But the logs haven't caught, 

Just seem to smolder and shrink 

As the heat works its way to their center. 

 

Getting to what I want 

Will be slow going and mostly smoke. 

 

[Tracy K. Smith {1972- } from 'Joy', in Such Color]