The girl in the room
across the hall
practices violin,
majestic chords
of a Bach sonata
plucked
ad nauseam.
And yet
today
this bleating affirmation
of culture
of passion
of joy
of humanity
reverberates its profound sound
against the walls
of this drab, smoky
holding cell of
evacuees fleeing flames,
shrouding ourselves
in the facade
of normalcy
for the sake
of frightened children
who are us.
Agonizing
over pieces of gewgaw
before a 3am departure
under blazing skies
snowing ruin.
Sure to be away
just a day
maybe two,
bets were placed on
a minimalist haul:
a passport,
a few bucks,
a dog and toothbrush,
half a joint.
a bottle of water,
a painting gifted
by my far away father.
The devastation
not yet complete,
extinguishes life
from all walks.
Earthly places
on which have been built
families
reputations
legacies
cremated into ash
in the space of
a deep red evening.
The direness
of our collective
predicament
excreted through
sooty snot
salty tears
the stinky sweat of stress,
hair reeking
of a thousand Friday night bonfires.
The unfamiliar
serene panic of
helplessness
bargains
negotiates
at the alter of
the Arbitrary,
until
the direction of the wind
inevitably
changes.
-
#california #napa #ourbelovedhome #blessfirstresponders #napafire #pleasemakeitstop
(at São Francisco de Itabapoana)