At the Witching Hour

Witch Creek Fire

Sunburnt Sun

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

Idyllwild, this time with photos

People always have a spot, one that is not far away, that is special to them. We call it our "go-to" place.  It is a town called Idyllwild. population: around 3,784.

Much could be written about this town, but right now it is most famous for the recent Cranston Fire.

Following the rains of 2017

June 2018

After Cranston Fire at Idyllwild July 2018

We drove through this moonscape on our way to Idyllwild for the afternoon yesterday. This community of 3,874 was busy with an annual music festival. So many visitors were there that we had real difficulty finding a parking place.  Shop owners told us about the courage and dedication of firefighters and how this tight-knit town were ready for such an event.  

If we had not driven through the black and white burned area, we would not have known a fire had nearly taken their town.

It was saved by three or more days of 24 hour firefighters being so brave.  Around the clock of fire retardant drops and water from Lake Hemet kept their town whole.

Arson was the cause, as in other fires in the news.  It is a felony to do such a horrible thing, with serious consequences. We personally feel that an arsonist should spend the rest of his life on the front lines of fighting a wildfire.

We will visit our "go-to" Idyllwild again soon.  

The Witching Hours

Source

Sunburnt sun

Streaked with

Gray and pink....
Wisp to wild.
Grasping, consuming.

Billows of ashes and dust

Swirl upward—

A gift to fires

Of all fires.

Witch Creek,

Cedar Creek,
Mount Palomar,
Esperanza: 

Burn to the ocean

Or stop at the crest?

Waiting for an end.

Impassive walls, lying and
Fiery tongues lick cold
 

Gusts transport feathery remains

of homes and trees

To rest, layer upon layer,

White and Gray.

Green life, now absent, 

Becomes moonscape

In moments, in hours.

All from

A sunburnt sun.


Fire at its witching hour