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