Wildfire Season

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This is dedicated to all the victims of the west coast wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington-

Wildfire season - I inhale, and choke
On fiery air, try to blink away haze
But all the sunlight is full of smoke
Drizzling embers fall in a burning dose
Like stealthy predators, they come too close
Swallowing the land in a scarlet blaze
Leaving us homeless and broke

To rebuild, we are left on our own
The red ink of insurance protects only their greed
They cynically say we should have known
As an 'act of God' they don't cover
It is on our shoulders to recover
Their profit more precious than our need
But we are not beaten; tenacity is home-grown.

8/15/18

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Gershon Wolf

Date: 8/20/2018 4:48:00 PM

Love that last line. In time of crisis, we CAN rally around the wagons like the Amish! ~ Gershon

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 8/28/2018 5:59:00 PM

Yes, relying on each other is the key to getting through-

CayCay Jennings

Date: 8/18/2018 10:23:00 PM

First, you are empathetic enough to stand inside the victims emotions, and caring enough to put yourself thru that. I quit news this year which may be something I should rethink. Doesn't insurance greed stink big time? Those executives fail to realize they themselves are each an act of God holding life insurance. I want to shoot out their kneecaps and many other knees belonging to power and greed feeders. Oh, I went off. This poem deserves time and attention and healthy knees. CayCay

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 8/19/2018 6:17:00 PM

Well - that was an interesting comment, but I agree about insurance companies and their self-serving policies, so glad you got so much out of this!

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 8/15/2018 8:04:00 PM

It sounded so desolate and hopeless until the last line rose up with glory and said "you cannot beat this family!"

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 8/16/2018 2:27:00 PM

Thank you for your encouraging comments, Caren!

Heidi Sands

Date: 8/15/2018 2:38:00 PM

Very well written. I love the last line too :)

Michelle Faulkner
Date: 8/15/2018 3:07:00 PM

Thank you Heidi, appreciate that!