Acton California, 2009

Swirls of smoke
Thick and choking
Burning noses,
Stinging eyes,
Fires raging,
Killing, reducing
Pasts to ash.
Embers flaring,
Daring, fighting
Back, exploding,
Eating acres.
Gulping, chomping,
Gluttonous and fat
Spreading, devouring
Growing till there’s nothing
Left to burn
And all is quiet.
All is black and dead and
Barren as the surface
Of the moon. An almost
Holy place revered and
Yet revolting, but life
Is not so easily put down.
The green will come again.