WILDFIRES THREATEN
the fire burns
the heat rises
the “hot-shots”
spit at the edges
the heat rises
the “hot-shots”
spit at the edges
summer again
in this new world
of climate-change
fires are expected
we ask
in this new world
of climate-change
fires are expected
we ask
why did you look the other way
why did you ignore so much
the stones turn red
the tribe prepares to flee
the stones turn red
the tribe prepares to flee
before the village is swallowed
wind gusts come in waves
fan the fire
wind gusts come in waves
fan the fire
owls hide in prairie dog holes
the animals had been moved
chores complete
chores complete
boxes packed
the air is hot
full of smoke
the air is hot
full of smoke
the villagers' quake
they have faced other dangers before
but seldom something that would completely
they have faced other dangers before
but seldom something that would completely
take their way of life from them
still, she stands before her mirror
she is not willing to go
until she has donned a new smock
painted her lips with lipstick
red like her coifed hair
sprayed with hairspray
until she has donned a new smock
painted her lips with lipstick
red like her coifed hair
sprayed with hairspray
she turns around
wiggles her hips
she knows how hard it is just to be
spending the day clerking in the general store
wiggles her hips
she knows how hard it is just to be
spending the day clerking in the general store
she has always been a stranger on her own
just a wisp of a girl
she will walk in hope of a ride
she will walk in hope of a ride
she wonders how did it all come to this
with minutes to spare
she dashes from the house
with minutes to spare
she dashes from the house
July 2, 2017
19 comments:
This is wonderfully visual. AsI read it my mind wandered to the tragic event in London last week when so many didn't escape the flames.
Come Whirl with me!
I have read of the wildfires and so much devastation that it cause... climatchange and people building to close to nature... I think that if we had let it burn in smaller scale it might not have been so devastating.
Terrible when the wildfires are burning, people, animals and wildlife fleeing for their lives. Your descriptions are wonderful, I could see the whole scene so clearly.
We'll be fixing our hair as it goes up in fire. better told in poetry with a juxtaposition like yours than to tell with fact and figures, but still...
Could completely picture that scenario. It does sound scary.
Well done, my friend. Your imagery is fluid and we can see it all as it is happening. I think, on some level, Mother Nature is telling us how she feels about our careless squandering of her gifts.
Elizabeth
I could picture the scene vividly. So much devastation caused by those wildfires.
Your words are beautifully descriptive. Strangely, I wrote of a fire as well.
She sounds like a diva herself! Someone I'd have the pleasure of being friends with. thanks for sharing this with us Annell!
In Australia we too have the threat of wildfires (bush fires we call them here) but curiously the eucalypts (Gum trees) whose home it is can survive them, get scorched and then a few weeks later sprout new growth, thankful for a bit of tidying up! However humans, their crops, property and stock are less resilient.
The images in this are striking. Also I found that the slice of life-goes-on juxtaposed against the horror of fire coming towards the town - very compelling. Even with all that is happening, human foibles find their way into the mix. One might make the case that humanities unfortunate inability to take in the 'big picture' is part of the reason that global warming has been visited upon this planet, in the first place. Wonderful writing!
Ouch!..she seems to be the wildfire herself...
An enticing story poem - I am glad she got out in time
Such an amazing & powerful writing.
Click Here to see what Mrs. Dash Says
Powerful images. Lovely read.
We have had too many devastating fires close to home, and news of those from afar, not to read these opening lines with trepidation.. the red stones are particularly frightening.
Its horrible when wildfires are burning, and when people, animals and wildlife are running for their lives.
We hope the dash was not too late...
I love the giving and accepting of the gifts and blessings ~ It is perfect ~
ตารางคะแนนบุนเดสลีกา
Post a Comment