The Fires Came

The fires came in hours and days consuming all within their way

Bougainvilleas of burning flowers spread terror across the hilly tapestry

As moist eyes and beating hearts packed a knapsack getaway

The firemen flew high above and dropped the chemicals down

An orange wall of smoke descended and crept over the land with its dirty gown

Soot in snowflakes clothing mingled with the air as it floated to the ground

The wildlife and the once green life cried to the heavens for help

Flashing police vehicles called for safety and warned of danger’s stealth

Electronic voices called out alarm and alerts concerning air quality and health

In every direction conflagration, dark clouds, blackened earth, glowing preen

Communities and families connected in love, keeping an eye on the unseen

The stream blustered and blistered, ebbed and flowed, destroying the dream

Suddenly quietly the wind tired and calmed down and fled away to sleep a spell

All souls searched the expanse of the deep, a geyser of emotions rose and fell

What would be the outcome, would there be a way home, none could tell

Then news came that one fire was out, even as others scattered about and enraged the several distant horizons

5%, 10% contained the voice spoke, as on the mountains smoke loomed in ominous plumes teetering toward town and citizens

Like dinosaurs from a Japanese movie or escapees from magic lamps in the forms of rising genies and jins

Darkness came and came again the winds accusing of sins, the peoples whispered breathless prayers from their beds

O God if you will let the wind be still, the fires put out, but in the distance called out dancing wavy golds and reds

Light broke again upon the scene, some rose to joy, others to glean what could be salvaged from the ravaged homesteads

Tears fell and the old ones shook their heads, they said: I don’t know what I’m going to do

Hearts melted away with lives and memories, sympathy and destiny to pursue

The earth ached longing to be free of the hot angry passion that scourged it's back black and blue

The mind was driven away back to it's recesses, accessing places, foraging in the past

Away from school and work regressed, abscessed into various stages of the looking glass

Playing and escaping the charging glowering gas, turning away in fear, exhaustion and collapse

As the week progressed one did not watch or assess the news knowing of the sadness it would bring down

Those who died and of those who lived, of lands burned, raped and pillaged with only more to come

It was as crazy as a week could be, as scary as it could feel,  people were happy to be alive and at home

Grateful to all who save and rescue, Thank you, God bless you, while grieving all those who are gone.

Santa Ana, Santa Ana you wear a red bandana

Santa Ana, Santa Ana put away your sword and cannon

Give the land a rest from the violence of your caress

Santa Ana, Santa Ana you wear a red bandana

Santa Ana, Santa Ana with a burning horde behind you

Give the peoples respite from the pain that you inflict

Promise now to leave us

Take away your curse

Without death's violent cost
Without without his ruddy kiss

Promise now to leave us

Take away your curse

Santa Ana, Santa Ana your hair is full of ire
Santa Ana, Santa Ana calm your anger, let it tire
May God bring winter rains upon us, the land to cleanse and bless.