Sifted Away

welcome to SE Okla where it's fire season

Gentle ripples of haze settle on the valley floor, concealing the silhouette of over-lapping ridges.  The tail of the dragon drifts slowly upward as it struggles against the breeze. The earthy char of cinders lets any and all know that fire is on its way.

The breath of the dragon is blazing upon the face of the land. Birds of the air are on stand-by as creatures great and small take to foot. Only man faces the flames, sitting back burns on the ridge, and pushing brush from its path.

He plays a game of chess, the wind and the beast play as one, but with puffy eyes and skin of ash coupled with a stubborn streak man sets his plan to action. He knows what the fire does not. The jet stream is soon to shift, and it will push the wind back to the south from whence the fire came. Until then patience of mind will be matched by sweat of toil, and the dead of winter will be sifted away.

Author's Note

just trying to keep busy while mother sleeps and waiting for our radation treament, Oh and yes we have fire on the ridge back home on the ranch

Reviews

[Samuel Dickens]

I experienced wildfires in California several years ago, so the scene you describe is not unknown to me. We got rain last night and much cooler temperatures today, so hopefully some of that will find its way to your locale.
My oldest sister is going through those treatments, too. (Lung cancer after 50 years of smoking)

[madmocha]

I like these kind... being a non-poet, it's nice to find the simple, clear verse. The imagery that isn't over blown by verbiage. The concepts that are linear and easy to follow.
Weaver beat me to the editing, so there's not a lot I can add that hasn't already been said. I like this one.
BTW, like SD, it reminds me too of the wildfires growing up in S. California. Good imagery brings on memories.

[Weaver]

"Gentle ripples of haze settles"- "settle" (verb goes with "ripples," not "haze")
comma after "faces the flames"
comma after "stubborn streak"
"knows what the fire dose not" - "does" - great phrase, by the way
comma after "soon to shift"
"to the south form winch the fire came" - do you mean "from whence the fire came"?
"from which the fire came"?
period, not comma, after "came"
Very drifty and poetic, but the images are vivid and interesting.

[Nimbus Thread]

Wonderful imagery. I've experienced a racing prairie fire in the late spring, the devastation and the rebirth it eventually brings in nature, ourselves. You've brought the memory back. Hope all is well. x

[KATHY SUE SILLS]

Love the imagery in this poem!

[poetsblade]

interesting mix of literal and surreal imagery....good open feel

[An owl on the moon]

In the winds and wilds you take that gray smoke and you breathe a beautiful magic into it, filled with dragons overcoming winter with their flames. May you all be safe as the season comes on.

[OT]

ooo this is wonderfully descriptive - an enchanting delve into fiction - the dragon - i loved the "The breath of the dragon is blazing upon the face of the land" - face of land - what an idea! nice!

[Black Cat Fever]

Sounds frightening to me but forest fires always are. Love the way you wrote this, man verses nature. Your descriptions brought this tale alive for me. I enjoyed reading this.

I'm wishing your mother all the best and successful treatment.

[FireWoman]

The imagery is vividly painted into the reader's mind. I can not imagine how the animals and humans feel that are in the path of this destruction. But, isn't it amazing how quickly the green starts to come back and regrow?

[Maurice]

Your writing is alive and expressive. Great poem.