Gray and pink...
Wisp to Wild
Grasping, consuming.
Swirl upward--
A gift to fires
of all fires.
Witch Creek,
Poinsettia,
Paradise
Cedar,
San Marcos,
Elfin Forest,
Mount Palomar...
Coco..
Other battles without names.
Burn to the ocean
or Stop at the crest?
Fiery tongues lick cold
Impassive walls.
Left empty and deserted,
Waiting for the end.
Homes and trees
To rest, layer upon layer.
White and Gray.
Green life, now absent,
 |
| Arizona |
Becomes moonscape
in moments, in hours.
All for
A Sunburnt Sun,
Fire at its witching hour.
I will read ashes for you, if you ask me,
I will look on the fire and tell you from
the gray lashes
And out of the red and black tongues and stripes
I will tell how fire comes and how fire runs
as far as the sea.
Carl Sandburg Fire Pages
Over the thirty years of living here, we have seen and experienced wildfire. Photos cannot do justice to the horror fire spreads.
Just a few hours ago, smoke rose over the acres north west of us. We smelled the fire before we saw the fire.
Donations to the American Red Cross can be made at: Red Cross Donations
You burn, we flood, the devastation is awful either way.
ReplyDeleteAnd near July 4th, we had earthquakes.
DeleteAn elegy to what is lost, I shut out of my mind what it is to feel and see and hear a forest fire approaching.
ReplyDeleteSame here. Their losses and pain is unbelievable.
DeleteIt's that time of year...
ReplyDeleteSadly so. All the rain we had in spring had lovely green. That dried and turned into fire tinder.
DeleteWhile the east coast is drowning, the west is on fire. What horrible disasters. I hope all is well with you, Susan.
ReplyDeleteWe watched the flames 15 miles from us. Fire retardant was dropped throughout the day. I don't hear the planes & helicopters now.
DeleteWhen disaster strikes we know about it within hours. There was a time we did not learn of other's horrors until days, weeks or months later. Now your heart hurts more for the victims (human ans nature) because someone is going to SHOW you the devastation in real time.
ReplyDeleteGood entry and timely.
Sherry & jack
News now flies around the world. And you are right, social media can show every and any thing.
DeleteI don't know quite where you are but I will offer prayers and good thoughts for your safety and that of your forests. My cousin lives in Flagstaff where the Museum Fire raged close to their home for weeks and other bloggers have been in fire zones. It is terrifying. I send you all good hope for an outcome with the least amount of damage.
ReplyDeleteFires around Flagstaff have been so devastating. I hope this year will see less wildfires in your area.
DeleteFires are burning out of control here at the moment. Towns are being evacuated. People and animals will lose their homes - and their lives.
ReplyDeleteI remember the huge fires there were a year or so ago. Horrific. Here in tinder dry California, the number of fires and loss is unbelievable.
DeleteSadly our summer is yet to begin, and the rain we usually receive over winter didn't arrive. The forecast is grim.
DeleteI recall your last summer when your poor birds were so dehydrated and overheated. My poor corellas sat with their feathers fluffed out. Will be praying for you all. I promise.
DeleteI hear about the fires all around me, but thankfully we never have to deal with any of them other than the falling ashes that settle on the cars and everything else.
ReplyDeleteArlee Bird
Tossing It Out
One year when the fire was surrounding San Diego Wild Animal Park (which was contained and didn't injure animals), Large flakes fell like snow and covered cars.
DeleteI think horror is the right word to use for such things. They are contending with these things down in The Amazon too. Let’s up that these things are minimized going forward.
ReplyDeleteWildfire is not unusual at this time of year, no less destructive. Fire crews are amazing and efficient.
DeleteI hear it's doing that in the Amazon as well.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about that, so will go to our friend Google.
DeleteYou paint such a true picture with your words. Fire is an absolute horror yet I am always amazed how nature will after some time send up green stalks to eventually blot out the grey.
ReplyDeleteStay safe.
When the green appears, we all breathe a sigh of relief.
DeletePlease stay safe.
ReplyDeleteWe are about 15-20 miles away. Today the air is clear and we are awaiting news about the status.
DeleteUgg, they suck in every which way. Hopefully it stays clear of you and gets put out fast.
ReplyDeleteIt appears clear today, news will tell.
DeleteDear Susan, thank you for sharing with us the splintering of nature that is a wild fire. The climatologists are saying they are going to become more frequent and more devastating because of climate change. The face of our planet is changing. All because of our poor decisions and lack of attention and greed. Peace.
ReplyDeleteWeather in California has had some rain and no rain. Does not work well with fires.
DeleteThe sight of fire is mesmerizing, but oh. The horrors left behind. I still weep for the defenseless animals.
ReplyDeleteThe number of burned animals can no be estimated.
DeleteFires on one side of the country, hurricane on the other. Late summer is brutal.
ReplyDeleteSummers are unpredictable at any given time.
DeletePrayers that you stay safe and unburnt. Such a horrible thing.
ReplyDeletemy heartiest prayers for you my friend
ReplyDeletemay you stay safe in the hands of Lord! amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wildfires are frightening indeed ,i have witnessed it sometimes back in native village in summers season
i wonder if authorities take precaution to prevention,
please take great care and keep us updated
hugs!