the burning season

wildfire in bush canyon today
and the sky is doubtful with ash, fluttering
like flirting eyelashes. the heat gasps in and lays low over
the heavy-lapped valley, like a drowned body, and
trees stand bare-armed as preachers
while the sun lapses over the horizon,
pressured into an attitude of reverence – a bland face regarding
frizz-tipped heads of grass bearing judiciary wigs
of ash.

insects wheedle and haggle and we sit outside on the porch
because the airconditioning is broken. we sit stickyshirted
with our mouths hinged open like trapdoors and the smell of
wildfire smoke burning stifled trails through our nostrils.
purple-crowned thistles stage a coup on the leftover august blossoms,
which kneel before them like prisoners of war.
the absent wind dazes, the valley cups up.
we squint,

we
hold our breath.

and somewhere the firemen move through the carcasses of burnt trees.
above them, birdsounds incomprehensible and drawn out, like the syllables of some
foreign tongue. black tree-fingers frozen in positions of damnation and regret,
wheezing stomachwounds, the red jewelry of cooling embers
and the wildfire ever-retreating, ever-eating –
bonecrack under firemen boots, they
wipe their brows
and pray for rain.

in answer, a passive sun,
bestows urinary rays of half-light
through the belching haze
and remains unmoved.

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

Has something of a Stephen Crane-esque feel, at least in terms of the indifference of the universe or the lack of divine guidance. There are some marvelous images and turns of phrase-- the sky being "doubtful", insects which "wheedle and haggle", the sun shining with "urinary rays of half-light". Powerful and inventively visual, this is very fine work, indeed.

[T. F. Rice]

check out this contest: on "burning"

http://www.writerscafe.org/contests/7878/

[Nautili]

Such amazing attention to detail, your imagery is what makes this piece come alive. The hazy feel, the fires buring to ash, the insects, and trees watching and powerless to protect their home. The firemen attempting to protect, but watching the relentless power of brush/forest fires rip through nature's community, leaving them feeling powerless as well. Love the picture of the sun as an impassive observer to the whole scene. A ball of fire watching a piece of earth on fire, as though its very essence ignited the flame. Really good work.

[Kaylee Andurs]

I've been around fires and you hit the stop. I really liked it.

[Emily B]

don't mind Ed, he boils everything down to the bare bones

which works for him

some folks need a little more meat

[Ed Hart]

fine poem...

[Marie Anzalone]

Wow. Your words paint the picture so vividly, as all five sense would experience what you describe. I feel like I am sitting on your porch with you, watching the hazy sun, smelling the smoke, hearing the insects of summer. Your work is astounding in its ability to build an image and hold it in the mind long after the page is turned. You have a meticulous attention to detail that gives your scenes such a sense of realism. Excellent work!