Forest Fire

Each branch
Alive
Moving
Seeming to twist
In fear
Each leaf
Consumed
Engulfed
In the redness of anger
That flowed
Growled
Screamed through the nightmare
All enveloping
A madness of heat
Mis-shaping
Removing beauty of shape
Taking colour
Leaving
Nought but black
Nought
But dust
And embers
That glowed
Menacing as eyes
Of beast awaiting prey
Ready
At a moment
To leap
Unannounced
Into the harkening wind
A virus
Spreading
From the dying lungs of the forest
A last gasp
A cough
Then silence
A deep
Black enshrouded

Silence


Terry Rhiannyr
February, 2013