Firestorm

In the autumn of yearning

it is easy to see how the flame has 

burned itself out

until what is left is only 

the lingering embers

often I have traveled through

these smoldering hills

surely by now

the road is known to me

that is what I tell myself

as I look over my shoulder

to see the unintentional 

storm of fire 

that we have set. 

Anyone could have told us 

that the heat of August

was laying the seeds of 

conflagration

there was a dry wind

that had moved over us 

from the desert of dreams 

and so we are 

punished

for wandering in our sleep. 

I have spent the morning

thinking about firebreaks 

thinking about soot 

on my face

and wondering when 

all this digging 

will be too late

I should have started 

earlier but I thought

that the burning was contained

in my head, heart and hands. 

Photo courtesy of David McCaskill

https://500px.com/photo/288707497/Welcome-Winter-and-the-New-Years-by-David-McCaskill/