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)
