spiritus ignis - for California

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while torrid sparks lick heaven’s cheek
        those Santa Anas sweep the peaks
            and stoke the charring blaze that kills
    each breathing creature ‘tween the hills

sweet Cali’s grandest homes and folk
        engulfed with horror, screams and smoke
            now ‘neath an arson’s scorching gun
    there’s nothing left them but … to run

what weight we grant to things of price
        quick-claimed by flame and heat’s device
            there saves no faves from nature’s wrath
    this beast burns whole what’s in its path

fire knows naught favored lands or name
        midst blaze and smoke we’re all the same
            and what with work we’ve come to earn
    comes soot through conflagration’s burn

such fearsome heat, such searing scorch
        damned hades wields this ruthless torch
            though folks chance lives to slow its creep
    there’s naught contained by work or weep

too much now lost this hellfire’s breath
        the things and homes that meet their death
            and yet, it’s through this hell on earth
    we learn, once more, what LIFE … is worth.

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