Fire and Flood

This time of year
the lake is an island of cool
in a cauldron of heat. 
A few months ago, 
the surrounding grass 
was fed by flood
and stood tall and green
in a bog.
Now it is bleached, bent over 
and crackles underfoot.

By January, the landscape 
shrivels up and tightens 
into a parched, 
knotted ball
tensing for the burn. 
Baked and blackened, 
its ancient soul readies
to resurrect again,
breaking out
of its charcoal sarcophagus 
with a green shoot as if 
it was giving a raised finger 
to fire.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

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