the ghostly galleons
arose through the fog and smoke
then silently glided north
with the occasional burst of fire
to help them rise
showing paying guests our town
far removed from the consuming fires
that have taken three lives
and more than a hundred and fifty homes
the fog is cool and misty
rising from our river
the smoke a choking blanket
an irritating symptom of those losses
with more heat on it’s way
drought ravages our resources
all available fire fighters
and their equipment
assisting property and folk
they say it thundered through
like a speeding train
no time to prepare or run
they hunkered down as
their homes burnt to the ground
looters already stealing
anything left as those people
grieve the loss of everything
wildlife livestock nothing untouched
they claim an Indian storm
was a precursor to our maelstrom
but we live in a country of violent
extremes flood fire and drought
we all know someone touched
but pray it won’t be us …
prayers please for all those suffering …
The fires in California…. that is what this reminds me of.
The bad air quality for folks miles away.
All the brave firefighters…
May recovery be quick. Extended prayers from here.
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thanks Jules they are expecting the worst today … pray that no more lives are taken
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Sad and yes heard about it on the news channel. Our earth is getting destroyed by a few selfish people, Kate. Who is doing this nonsense. A great poem
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all of us Kamal, these catastrophic fires are due to climate change …
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I’m so sorry, Kate! Nothing is worse than a wildfire, except perhaps for some people’s reactions…how can you possibly loot from those who are already suffering?
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some people seem to have no moral compass Ann 😦
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Poignant writing, Kate, which your personal experience makes all the more heartrending.
Thoughts, wishes, etc. for you and your neighbors.
Unfortunately, while some fires are our fault, i.e., kids playing with matches, untended campfires and the like, others strike with lightening’s randomness.
We don’t usually pray for rain, but in tis case….
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thanks Keith, they have actually declared it a state of emergency … means they can throw more resources at it including the military!
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So sorry to read this
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yes it’s a shocking state of affairs ..
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Such a sad state of affairs! I will add the survivors to my prayers today!!
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thanks so much!
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A beautiful tribute to those who have suffered such devastating losses. And a reminder to continue to pray for them. Because their pain is not over yet.
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it’s just starting Mary, thanks for your kind understanding 🙂
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So sad! So many lives lost…
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too many and their homes with all their worldly belongings and keepsakes 😦
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Gosh! So terrible…
Are the fires under control now?
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today all our schools are shut, they’ve declared a State of Emergency and are expecting unprecedented fires near our major cities …
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These fires are horrendous and scary, Kate. A sad and poignant poem.
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sadly there is no end in sight … I’m a very long way from the fires yet the air is thick with smoke and ash …
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I am so sorry, Kate. We get terrible wild fires in the Western Cape of South Africa and occasionally in Johannesburg too.
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they said more than a hundred fires were burning yesterday, that if it keeps up at this rate the military will be deployed to help …
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So scary. Prayers.
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thanks Elizabeth!
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prayers have been sent up. i am so very sorry you and those around you are going through this.
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oh I’m safe but there is concern for the coming week … for others not me
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The rain gods are definitely needed dear Kate, hopefully soon, xxx
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pray it’s very soon, they are threatening worse fires next week and that people cannot expect help as resources are already overstretched. Our show grounds have been opened for people to squat in until the danger has past ..
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It’s a frightening situation Kate, I hope you are safe xxx
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very safe, just that the thick smoke is a constant reminder, thanks Ivor!
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So sad and touching.
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Very, very devastating for sure. Heart goes out to all affected by it. We had the same level of wildfire in northern Canada in the community of Fort McMurray, Alberta a few years ago. People had minutes to evacuate.
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sadly this is a frequent experience here … already had too many this year with more predicted this week. But this is the biggest loss of homes and life
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Thank you for this. it is truly awful for these poor people.
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indeed, I wanted to preserve the moment by posting, thanks
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Oh my, that smokey picture says a lot. So do your words. Thanks for giving us some insight to this terrible problem.
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thanks many cannot comprehend the scale of tragedy we face constantly, no idea how these people will manage …. it’s too much in one community!
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So tragic and so sad and so scary. I join you in praying for everyone involved.
We lived in two different places where summer fires were just a common occurrence. 😦 Many people started the summers by putting sentimental possessions (photographs, heirlooms, etc.) in their cars (as much as they could fit), so if they had to evacuate quickly, at some point, they knew they could save a few special things.
Important, timely poem, SweetKate. Emotion evoking. Helps the reader understand and care. Thank you for writing it and sharing it.
(((HUGS)))
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the water choppers are busy here right above my head, taking their loads to and fro plus the smoke … it’s surreal with so many homes and lives lost. This was not a usual fire area so nobody was prepared although we are constantly warned!
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😦
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Such a poem that shows the drama of a man who looks at the fire consuming the achievements of his life. A poem about the terrible element of fire. Drought and human carelessness is the cause of many tragedies. We feel sorry, we pray.
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thank you so much for your kind understanding 🙂
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Devastating fires. I follow a blogger who lost everything this time last year in the fire in Paradise,U.S. It destroyed his home of nearly forty years and all personal possessions. Very sad.
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it’s the personal possessions that really cause most grief, then the disappointment that scavengers would come looting … these personal affronts do far more damage 😦
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