Pyrotechnician

The group Heatwave, it seemed to me

(in 1970)

was dreadfully dull and boring too

(not at all incendiary)

so, with breath control and mind over matter

(it didn't matter as I didn't mind),

to liven up the act and give it something new,

after much practice and repeating,

using self-made torches soaked in paraffin,

I taught myself how to do fire eating

and late that summer became

(tho' only the drummer)

'Keeper Of The Flame'.

Once, while on stage performing,

some sceptic in the audience shouted,

"That's not really hot,"

so, determined to put him in his place

(he deserved all he got)

I gave him quite a fright

when I flashed the flames in his face.

Then, '77 one fearful night

in Bright Eye Band wearing tights

(a.k.a., Smooch on Halloween)

throwing all caution to the wind,

as it was gauged just right,

the draft from a fan

blowing across the stage set my hair alight.

Although not what I call apropos,

I survived, came out alive,

but what a way to close the show.

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