Concerning the Santa Barbara Fires of 2009

6.14.10

From the eighth floor of Davidson, we watched

The large orange flames expanding their dance

And the hundreds, maybe thousands, fighting

With all their might to give these hills a chance.

The fire spread high, low, and all around

And the field of flames painted the sky grey

Causing ash to fall all across the town

Like a black snow would on a winter's day.

As the water flowed to distinguish flames

So did the beer into our plastic cups.

We danced all night amongst the falling ash

And toasted, raising our bottles high up.

"Local Lives Endangered by a Wildfire"

Is what every newspaper headline read,

But we were too concerned with living life

Than to stop and consider being dead.

Author's Note

Footnote: Line 1 - "Davidson" is the library on the University of California Santa Barbara campus.