Friday, September 9, 2011

Fire

I Respect Fire

I know camp fires
burning marshmallows
on shaved forked sticks
sparks like tiny fireworks
glow of firelight on faces

I loved wood fireplaces
stoked up on a snowy night
the crackle and hiss 
blue orange red colors
flames dancing to music

I have seen conflagration
lumber yard burned to nothing
I watched from a bridge above 
I watched a barn burn down
thankfully no animals present

I packed my car ready
watered my roof while fire
ravished the hill above
firefighters walking woods 
plane dropping chemicals

I have seen burned bodies
skin turned to melted plastic
I can't imagine the pain and
I wished them dead for their
own sake, one child died

I respect fire

5 comments:

  1. Willow, you have captured the horror of fire! I respect fire too, never want to be ravaged by it.

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  2. I love this poem. It starts out so calm and mesmerizing and ends with wild fires out of control. From peace to fear. All from fire. Wonderfully done!

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  3. Willow, I like how your poem builds slowly from the very beginning and on to its tragic conclusion. Yes, although I love it for the reasons you stated, I respect fire too.

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  4. Another Wow poem. Such impact especially the last part. The many guises of fire.

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  5. Powerful poem, reflects the amazing fascination with fire yet its destructive power that sometimes can't be stopped or controlled. Very timely with the nearby wildfires.

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