Wednesday, April 2, 2014

The Sun Like a Flashing Red Vessel (after Lora)

And that which is already burnt when it is set on fire again will it enlarge the sun like a flashing blood vessel.
from "The Green Record" by Carlos Richard Lara

Each summer for the past two
we have had fires that ate subdivisions
between 300 and 500 houses burned
the the ground each year

Lines of cars evacuating in the smoke
taking all they can pack in ten minutes
and all the pets they could find, but not all they had

We lost everything, they say to the evening news reporter
looking into the lens like an eye that sees flames
Everything but our lives, and a few pictures and my favorite
blue shirt.  You never know what you're going to want

but you know what you don't want
not another fire this summer
It's like a god we have to give sacrifices
to keep it from devouring the whole city

A dragon's breath out of control
the sun like a flashing red vessel

Carolyn Hull

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