# Smothered Fires explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Georgia Douglas Johnson.

## What happens

A woman conceals a passionate inner flame for years, suppressing it with tears and effort. After a long internal struggle, she finally extinguishes it, achieving a somber victory in silence.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Resilience

The woman endures a long, weary war within herself, hiding her true feelings and ultimately overcoming them through sheer will.

### Love and Loss

The burning flame suggests a deep love or passion that is smothered and lost, ending in a final farewell.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The narrator observes the woman's hidden struggle and final surrender.

## Key lines

> A woman with a burning flame Deep covered through the years With ashes. Ah! she hid it deep, And smothered it with tears.

A woman concealed a passionate inner fire for many years, burying it under ashes and tears.

_Describes the long suppression of intense emotion._

> At last the weary war was done The tapers were alight, And with a sigh of victory She breathed a soft⁠—good-night!

Finally, the exhausting struggle ended; the candles were lit, and with a triumphant sigh, she quietly said goodnight.

_The conclusion of her inner battle and the quiet acceptance of loss._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_9_se/chapters/smothered-fires
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_9_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/poetry_9_se/chapters