I Am Anaya Poet Rhyme

Notes About The Poem

^{Fire hydrants are designed to fight fires at one or two houses at a time, not hundreds or thousands of houses. They are not suitable for fighting large-scale wildfires}

 

^{Wait a week or two, do not believe what is said on the Internet.}

^{“A lie travels around the world before the truth gets its chance to get its pants on!”}         

_{^{photos from the Getty}}

_{^{Topanga Canyon near Pacific Palasades}}

Firestorm The 'Orange Glow'

Scents of burnt embers flowing over my windowsills
Charred are the palm tree fronds that
once fanned the breeze 
Seized are the pods, timbers     
Torches sparking  shrills

Behold the ashes drifting 
as they fall from my smoke-sooted skies
O but in b 'tween choking and tearing eyes                            
Bright orange-colored clouds  shade
So fiercely  they  invade

If you look West…
The 'golden glow’  shall arrive
He who heeds the warning
and  flits, may survive

A brush fire has lit the landscape
furiously waves its crimson cape
Tangerine smoke suspended in time
surrounds the hills all around me
congesting  the natural scenery
Arousing anxiety, anticipating 
the scale of the expansion its spreading
Swirling fire, twirling tornadoes
ravishing existence in its pathway 
 
Flames so blinding that align the sunset
In my field of vision – I’ll never forget
Frightful yet surreal,
I hear myself whisper it’s not real
Nonchalantly, Winds sweep in  firestorms
Notorious  for  its name  the  ‘Santa Anas’  
Lingering, its breath; smoggy haze swarms           
The brave battle the blaze, corral the flame
As the hills die, an obstinate inferno resurges
"To extinguish  life"  its aim
Like the Phoenix rising again and again,
but this isn't the Phoenix
it is something sinister

Guide us along the road  to a safe place
Away from the  drought,  
O  home,  there is not a trace
Chaos turns on  every cornerstone
I’m back where I started, I atone
Circling all areas, as others do —I do
With nowhere to flee  vs  warnings to eschew
Perhaps I’ll make it to the highway
with  westbound caravans  I’ll stay 
There I’ll keep alive

If you just look to the West…
The   ‘Orange glow’ (fire)  has arrived!

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Duke Beaufort January 16, 2025 at 8:50 AM Anaya, you are very wise suggesting we should wait for substantiated facts. The internet is loaded with conspiracy theories and misinformation as per usual. Your poem pulls at the strands of my heart. It's a huge loss for people who lose their home and their community interaction as well. It's hard to know what aid will come from the federal government since the people we have coming to power see this as a political opportunity. It's rather distressing to think they don't really care about the victims or the environmental and human causes of this disaster. There's a lot to learn if they would open their hearts, but I suspect that won't happen. I Am Anaya February 1, 2025 at 10:28 AM Duke, I'm happy that you read the poem, I don't think most here got that far. ha ha. I posted LA Times and Daily News articles, keeping up with our local news, since no one sees it, I also got constant notifications from congressmen on my phone with updated news. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the conspiracy theories and misinformation.

Joe Maverick January 13, 2025 at 5:59 PM Hello I see from your answer to B J things look Stable for you Anaya, its a terrible situation yet I see there that some people are pulling together Despite this terrible event...( wiill advise you just ) as a heads up..That there will have been Malign agents involved.) in the greek fires 2022/23? 79 arsonists were taken in custody in 2018 the Australian fires i would say had some Such instigation..But this was pre 2020 and i Know they would never have imagined of such evil' Stay safe & alert' I Am Anaya January 14, 2025 at 11:00 AM This is a gargantuan financial hit on California, which Johnson (house speaker) is now purposing...no help. California gives the most out of anyother State, to States where these guys come from Illinois, etc. On my way out and I can still hear fire engines in the backround. I Am Anaya January 14, 2025 at 8:50 AM Joe, Angelinos are urged to wear masks N95 and they are provided at libraries. Proclamation cuts red tape to build faster & packages for financial support are available for the poor folks who lost everything. We are out of the fire's way (harm's way) and OK, Joe. The fires have moved on to Ventura County. L A authorities are investigating whether ' New Year’s Eve' after midnight, FIREWORKS sparked a small fire that later reignited into the catastrophic Palisades wildfire. I heard those fireworks, they sounded like Cherry Bombs going off all night long, we even asked the police dispatcher if they knew it was going on THEY KNEW. They said they were getting calls from all over the city. I remember that very well. Thank you my friend. Joe Maverick January 13, 2025 at 6:03 PM They would never imagine it And there everybody is suoer bushfire conscious i Also heard some people were suspicioned but cant Remember now if charged I'll re-check..but again 2018 We did not think on such lines..Again be safe and God bless.'

Bj Legros Kelley January 12, 2025 at 7:59 PM Anaya, my prayers are with you. I'm a state away and feel so helpless. I lived in Southern Ca, Pasadena for a year in childhood and so many visits over the years. I know the area, and my heart is broken for everyone, and nature. Please stay safe! I Am Anaya January 13, 2025 at 8:32 AM The Kenneth Fire, covering 1,052 acres, has not been extinguished but is 100 percent contained, meaning the flames have been fully encircled and the spread effectively stopped. BJ I am fine, we're ok here in my neck of the woods. Thank you my kind poet friend.

Michael Tor January 12, 2025 at 9:22 AM Anaya praying for you and the people of California. I hope you and your family are safe... I Am Anaya January 12, 2025 at 9:31 AM Thank you, Micheal. We've been waiting for orders. But instead of running we have left the streets open for those who needed to evacuate. We have chosen to help out, on our block we've collected and are taking the boxes of really nice stuff...Monster cases, gallons of water, clothing, etc. they will take it and drop off at the high school :)

Kim Rodrigues January 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM Dearest Anaya, glad you are safe, though likely tramatized and heartbroken. You are an eyewitness to a type of apocalypse. We can never take life for granted. Count our blessings. Hugs, sweet one ~ Kim I Am Anaya January 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM The fires are ruthless, and creeping down to the San Fernando Valley...Encino is now evacuating we're not that far away. Unbelievable. The super scoopers (helicopters) do have a strategic plan, they drop retardant and sea water on the periphery of the fire to halt progression. They are doing their very best. I'll keep you posted. Thank you, Kim

Anne-Lise Andresen January 10, 2025 at 11:49 AM - This is terrible ... in a short time everything destroyed - their homes disappearing in flames, heartbreaking - The weather forecast is not the best either, I see - Stay safe, Anaya <3 - Is this a reality of climate change (?) - hugs I Am Anaya January 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM The weather/climate became unusual (I keep journals and mark the highs/lows of the day) since the 4 year drought back in 2012-16. I noticed no snow caps on the mountain tops, seeing them every year growing up. So, it was a change. I'm safe. No updates, no curfews. Thank you Anne.

Jay Narain January 10, 2025 at 10:18 AM A timely poem. Anaya, I hope you are safe along with your family. In the early 70s, I used to live in LA area. I remember Santa Ana winds which used to bring warm air in the wintertime. The seasons have changed drastically now. Now we get firey infernos. I Am Anaya January 10, 2025 at 11:27 AM I was just in a building on the 6th floor overlooking the West Hills, panoramic view of the hillside so brown, where snow caps should be in January. I can't see the orange smoke from this angle, it looks normal. The wind is picking up now. Thank you, Jay much appreciated.

Ink Empress January 10, 2025 at 8:36 AM Dear anaya, i hope it is under control now, i saw the news and im just speechless, its so horrendous! One of my soul sister lives in cali, and iv been trying to reach her and finally did today and shw was saying got evacuation orders but was later a false call. So lets see hopefully she is also safe but i must say your wordplay here and how youv written this in a descriptive manner is truly impressive! Keep us posted and here i am praying for your safety. Sending you light always I Am Anaya January 10, 2025 at 10:46 AM Ink, the winds have calmed, and the fire in Calabasas, but they are to return tonite as high as 59 mph expected, so it fuels the fires again, hence containment doesn't mean much. We'll see, waiting with my bug-out bag (go bag, survival bag) for orders. Tell your friend to make sure she always has a go- bag ready! Thank you so much.

Keith D Trestrail January 10, 2025 at 4:01 AM Keep safe, girl. God bless! I Am Anaya January 10, 2025 at 7:47 AM Evacuation orders in my neck of the woods have been called off. Thank you, Keith. If I flee it'll be West to Santa Barbara, I'll keep you posted.

Yann Rolland January 9, 2025 at 11:45 PM breathtaking poem, wonderfully written , i could feel the flames , so sad what happens, take care, it is devastating indeed, I Am Anaya January 10, 2025 at 7:59 AM Devastating, Yann my beautiful Pacific Palisades is gone. I stayed there at a time, jogging along the fire station #69. I'd run the hill down to 'Goldstones' restaurant on PCH! All burnt down now. I also visit the 'Realization Center' (Lake Shrine) a portion of Gandhi's ashes encased there where I go to meditate on Sunset Bld & PCH. So sad. Ty, I appreciate you!