WILDFIRE

WILDFIRE


PREPARE TO EVACUATE
PREPARE TO EVACUATE
THIS FOLLOWED A KNOCK ON THE DOOR
AND A POLICE CAR ON THE STREET
ITS LOUDSPEAKER BELLOWING
PREPARE TO EVACUATE

NEVER OUR BEST
AT FOUR IN THE MORNING
WE HASTILY DRESSED
PACKED A CHANGE OF CLOTHES
CAGED THE CAT
GATHERED WHAT WE THOUGHT
WERE IMPORTANT PAPERS

WE THOUGHT
WE’LL GO OUTSIDE THE FIRE AREA
AND HAVE BREAKFAST
SEE WHAT DEVELOPS

THE WIND CHANGED
THE THREAT WAS LIFTED
WE CAME BACK

WE WERE WARNED TO BE ALERT
THE WIND COULD CHANGE AGAIN

I WONDERED
ABOUT WHAT WE TOOK WITH US

EACH OTHER CERTAINLY

CHANGE OF CLOTHES
PRACTICALITY

THE CAT
EMOTIONALLY

PAPERS
WE THOUGHT
WERE NECESSARY

A COUNT ON ONE HAND
A SHORT LIST OF THINGS

LIFE REDUCED TO A HANDFUL


A LESSON
WE SHOULD REMEMBER
AFTER THE FIRE HAS COOLED
AND WE START COLLECTING
THINGS AGAIN



FRANK A VOLLMER