WIND AND ASHES
Everything glowed
halfway between orange and brown.
Sun came through the smoke,
painted the houses, the school.
Then it went dark.
Big clouds of it were black,
or blue where it reflected the sky.
Parts of it lit up yellow;
I don't know why.
I sat on the ground
so I could take the right picture.
My neighbor came out and talked,
wondering where the fire was.
Some men stood in the street
to see better.
Little pieces of ashen seeds
and leaves fell
on the cars,
on the sidewalks.
And the wind blew hot over everything.