Wildfire

Originally published on January 14th, 2018

In the distance, I can see smoke rising.
Red flames engulfing the trees,
The sky changing colors in the wind.

I can hear the sounds of sirens.
I can feel the hot, heavy air.
I can sense the dwindle of silence.

I am not big enough for fire,
I feel myself shrinking with the smell of smoke.
I do not know how to save you.

We have turned you into a land of wildfire.
With our neglect, we have caused smoke,
With our anger, we have brought flames.

I do not know how to put the furnace out.
I do not know how to make the sky clear again.
I do not know; I do not know.