Our differences burn away
now petty as air-borne ash
we stare, united by the dark
smoke-swallowed sky
The sun, reduced
by this raging fire
to a simple burning
red disk of anger
as we wonder what
happens next—
sundowner winds
breathing
with indifference
toward us, a lesson
in how lucky
we have been
Whittier fire photo by the poet. |
Peg Quinn is a three-time Pushcart Prize nominee, mural and theatrical set painter and award-winning quilter.