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Some Words for the Week

on fire and relief 

Posted 8/12/26

I drive through the mountains

the road flanked only by pines

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Some Words for the Week

on fire and relief 

Posted

I drive through the mountains

the road flanked only by pines

trees on the horizon

trees in the rear view mirror

smoke everywhere in between

everything is green now

but hints of burning linger

somewhere south

some place that

once looked like this

is now mostly black

char on the horizon

ash on the wind

smoldered ruins of former homes

line the hillsides

like such strange bones

everything reduced down

everything cleared away

maybe it will be a relief

when the fire comes

because then we can start again

maybe it will be a relief

when the fire comes

because then we won’t

have to be afraid

Alexander Shalom Joseph is an award-winning poet, writer and playwright from Gilpin County, and is the author of seven published books. You can find his work and more information about him at alexandershalomjoseph.com.