Fire Fulcrum

Or forum of flames

In solidarity with our kin in lands being burnt by a febrile planet and a seemingly sleepwalking apex species.

Los Angelenos,
their wings’ feathers singed, seared, soiled.
May they still stretch, soar.

Facts

Dry soil, mighty gales.
Foliage becomes kindling.
Firestorms hatching.

Wildfires, cyclones,
on their way they overturn
whatever is there.

Flames incinerate,
reduce to ashes, soot, dust.
Consume (almost) all.

Feels

Winter winds croon, chant
calm, comforting lullabies.
And sad requiems.

Roaring wildfires
devour homes in the forests.
Run away, Bambi!

Tough times for Earthlings.
Firestorms now, more coming.
Howl, hug, heave, heed, hope?

Followers

Fire season end.
We have been spared, lucky us.
That is, some of us.

After the fires,
ruins, fragments, sorrows, grief.
Sweeping and cleaning.

When the fires burn out,
ashes turn into compost.
The earth births again.

Friendly Fire?

Red hot fire flames,
duplicitous visitors.
Blazes maim, destroy.

Indeed, yet also
flames cast light, reveal pathways,
keep us warm and fed.

Encircled by rings,
fire flames, lust, greed, wrath, hate
in wild winds stay safe.

Prayer Pyres

Firestorm victims,
from the ashes may they rise.
Not giving up, yet.

May we emerge from hardship more generous, grateful, grace-full.
May adversity not close us, not numb us, not harden us.
May we read between the lines: ‘Wake up, all of us!’

May we rise stronger … more resilient and persevering.
May we rise wiser … more aware and forbearing.
May we rise better … more humble and forgiving.

Prompts

What can we learn from fire and from firestorms, in order to halt, heed, help, heal?

If fire is extinguished when the fuel runs out, how to keep from fueling harmful fires?

How to harness the power of fires burning on Earth, in hearts?

PS

More Big Bad News, a free story-based resource for children facing disasters

Taking the Heat, a true story

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