California Ablaze

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: CORONAVIRUS SERIES

California Ablaze

 

From the crisp clear ocean air

Of the northern California coast

To the towering redwoods of Big Sur

Yosemite and old John Muir

From the majestic peaks of Sierra Nevada

To the gentle grace of Santa Cruz

Where artists pay their dues

From the enchantment of Hollywood

The diversity of the city of angels

To the stunning beauty of San Francisco

California is paradise on earth

 

But the world has turned upon its head

We’ve followed where the demon’s led

The air smells of burning soil

As if the water was replaced with oil

The sky is bright orange yellow brown

The people flee their cities and towns

The sun is burnt sienna red

More suited to a land of the dead

Fire strikes a barren land

Our fertile valley turned to sand

 

Misfortune piles on tragedy

Compounding fear with horror

We can see the enemy now

We can smell and taste its bitter fruit

We have survived the sickness

We have endured the plight

Now we must scale the walls

Of fire smoke and ash

To grasp the morning light

 

We are living in a land of flames

California is ablaze

 

(August 19, 2020)