Higher temperatures with Global Warming, and little rain at this time of the year, mean bush fires are an increasing threat here in Australia. The state of Tasmania, usually a cooler region, has seen a 40+ degree centigrade heatwave in the past couple of weeks with many homes and forest areas destroyed. Victoria is also suffering. In conditions of high winds and unbelievable heat, lives can easily be lost, especially if people leave it too late to evacuate, or conditions are just too grim to survive, and they are trapped.
My poem evokes one such conflagration.
BUSH FIRE
sparks smoke embers
grandpa gulps coughs
I’ll sizzle
in my car
wife and grand kids trapped
in hers
flames explode
birds drop in flight
god make it quick
pain fear horror
helpless
fireball engulfs her car
melts rubber metal glass
and flesh skeletons
Siren hospital drip
charred skin seared lungs
don’t care if i live
or die
wracked with guilt
great wife great kids
not a damn thing
i could do