—Public Domain Photo, Caldor Fire in California
—Poetry by Kathy Kieth, Diamond Springs, CA
THE FOREST BURNS HOT
this year: a woman tries to torch old love
letters that turn on her: turn into
tiny sparks like fireflies that light
on dry needles, pause for a flicker, then
crawl to the forest underbelly, heating it
to crimson. Now larger flames lick
the undergrowth, begin to bound up trees
like angry bears: roaring, clawing up
crumbling bark to swing from the trapeze
of branches, then hand-to-hand themselves
along, leap through choking smoke until
all the green is gone: all the forest green
has been eaten alive and turned
to embers, turned into a smoldering black
shroud of soot and ash. . . The forest burns
hot this year: old love letters
are scorching the earth: letters that turn
on us, turn into tiny sparks looking for
dry needles: flicker on our under-
belly, just like fireflies. . .
______________________
Remember the incident quite a few years ago when the woman in California caused a massive fire while burning old love letters? A lesson there, for sure . . .
Tonight (Sat., 8/21), 7:30pm (music), 8pm (poetry): The Bookery presents an Evening of Local Poetry and Singer Song Writers. The evening, hosted by The Wine Smith, 345 Main St., Placerville, will be held in The Wine Smith Tasting Room. Poets include El Dorado County Poet Laureate Lara Gularte and H Jacob Sandigo; poetry open mic to follow. Info—call The Bookery at 530-626-6454.
—Medusa
this year: a woman tries to torch old love
letters that turn on her: turn into
tiny sparks like fireflies that light
on dry needles, pause for a flicker, then
crawl to the forest underbelly, heating it
to crimson. Now larger flames lick
the undergrowth, begin to bound up trees
like angry bears: roaring, clawing up
crumbling bark to swing from the trapeze
of branches, then hand-to-hand themselves
along, leap through choking smoke until
all the green is gone: all the forest green
has been eaten alive and turned
to embers, turned into a smoldering black
shroud of soot and ash. . . The forest burns
hot this year: old love letters
are scorching the earth: letters that turn
on us, turn into tiny sparks looking for
dry needles: flicker on our under-
belly, just like fireflies. . .
______________________
Remember the incident quite a few years ago when the woman in California caused a massive fire while burning old love letters? A lesson there, for sure . . .
Tonight (Sat., 8/21), 7:30pm (music), 8pm (poetry): The Bookery presents an Evening of Local Poetry and Singer Song Writers. The evening, hosted by The Wine Smith, 345 Main St., Placerville, will be held in The Wine Smith Tasting Room. Poets include El Dorado County Poet Laureate Lara Gularte and H Jacob Sandigo; poetry open mic to follow. Info—call The Bookery at 530-626-6454.
—Medusa
—Public Domain Photo Courtesy of
Joseph Nolan, Stockton, CA