... late at night / Highway 26 ... I pull over on the shoulder ... watch a low wall of fire move across a farmer's field ... through charred stubble ... another spring
There was something mesmerizing in this scene, and growing up with a similar practice of burning off the field, it was not scary for me. But, fire not planned for or controlled is very scary, indeed. I recently read a statement about the honesty seen in the faces of those watching a fire, and that still intrigues me.
There is a fierce beauty in this that presages summer. As metabolism is controlled and measured combustion there is a living rhythm here.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Geo. I appreciate this comment very much.
DeleteBurning landscapes still scare the hell out me. Is this simply human nature?
ReplyDeleteThere was something mesmerizing in this scene, and growing up with a similar practice of burning off the field, it was not scary for me. But, fire not planned for or controlled is very scary, indeed. I recently read a statement about the honesty seen in the faces of those watching a fire, and that still intrigues me.
DeleteRe-affirming - or life affirming.. that's what I feel on reading the poem.
ReplyDeleteThank you for commenting, Ray. :)
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