After the forest fire, a poem

This poem was first published on Ink, Sweat & Tears, and I also posted it here on my website last year. Given the terrible news of fires across Europe this summer, I’m reposting – even if the fire in this poem is intended to be metaphorical.

After the forest fire

Because we were four 
and I only had strength to carry one
and knew no other way 
I carried the one who called out loudest; 
threatened us most.

You two were left to walk behind 
in the dust of hot, dry summer and
the heavy mud of winter and spring.
Perhaps I thought you’d learn the land – 
more likely, I just hoped we’d be OK.

That morning found us silent, slumped 
among the charred remains of trees.
The flames, too, were spent after such a night. 
But the undersoil still burned, untraceably, 
towards where uncharred trees remained.