Days of Fire

Some Gratitude and Other Musings

We have been watching wildfires over the past few weeks, first the explosive Freeman Fire within about ten miles of us, and then, a little further away, the Circle Fire and the Romero Fire. The Freeman Fire is out now, and the crews have partial containment on the Circle and Romero fires.

It has been a very active summer, in terms of fire, in our immediate area. It leads to some extra thoughts of concern and gratitude for those fighting to bring control and safety into these fearsome expressions of nature’s power.

Catch a Breath

Catch a breath,
smell the burn,
peer through the haze.

Catch a breath,
breathe a prayer,
go on about the day’s
business.

Catch a breath,
breathe a prayer
for those whose business
is fighting blaze by blaze.

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This next poem is an attempt to express my two-fold feelings, observing the wonder of things outside me while feeling internal distress.

The Load

How many little quail in the corner by the road;
How my heart aches; life’s a heavy load.
How many bird songs in the last of the sun;
Sunrise to sunset, then day is done.
I see the sun bring fruit, and I see the sun bless;
I asked for so little; they’ve given still less.
They say God feeds the finches, the sparrows and the quail,
It’s not the sunlight dying, it’s my heart begins to fail.
The small birds go on being; they have no sin nor worse;
God’s curse on those who’ve made my life a curse.
How many little quail there are, how few their rushing days;
How many days of hell I’ve known; I fear the word “always”.

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Please don’t worry, friends; I am doing all right!

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