A cinder
In the hollow crack
Between a coffee can
And woven plastic
Struggles to survive the long night -
Ready to call it quits and fade away.
Then, a stir -
A gentle breath blows.
Aroused, the ember
Licks the air.
The flicker soon consumes the breeze
Roaring over gentle protests
Devouring metal, plastic, wood,
Her bed,
Their books.
Across the street
I watch the cinders raging,
So overcome with lust they will
Take us all for fuel.
* this poem is about the fire that destroyed over half a block of apartments in June of 2000. Our neighbors lost their homes. Although our building suffered significant damage, firefighters arrived in time to save it. The difference between home and homeless that night was only a few feet.*
