Ancient embers burn through rows of trees their trunks and limbs defaced
Billowing smoke suffocates the breath acrid soot hastens fleeting
Calm invoked the mask is placed and oxygen begins to flow
Dust on the ground crunchy burnt limbs under foot creeping
Every breath taken the wind moves across your path
Forever it seems to burn white hot oak now turned to ash
Gone are the trunks of 200 year old gentle beasts
Hiding on the hills in hope they won't burn and fall with a crash
In the air smoke filled visions of light dancing on the clouds
Just in time the water bird swoops and douses all my limbs
Kinfolk gather and hope their hamlet will be spared
Leaning in and holding close their loved ones singing hymns
Mountains direct the fires burning on peaks and valleys down below
No time to waste grab all your things and knickknacks that mean the most
Once there was a childhood home now which stands just a chimney alone
Panicked faces dampened sweaty full of fear they lost all hope
Questions answered with not answers but more questions ringing false
Roaring in their ears the sirens deafening the solace gone
Silence as the trees they breath relief and dancing as they waltz
Tucking in between the gullies formed by water poured since dawn
Under blanketed ground of ash the light soon gives the sprouts their due
Valleys mountains hills and crests begin to enrich once fire's through
What was once a barren wasteland full of blackened trunks and soot
Xenial growth the pollen spreads and pedals will once again renew
Yesterday the ground it crunched under dusty feet creeping through flames
Zestful life like spring today sprung up through ground that forever remains

It was the night before last
that I stepped into the kitchen
I'm thirsty I thought
and my mind I've got a stitch in

Racing for the fridge
at a pace no one's beatin'
fill my belly with ale
I should get something to eat then

Much to my chagrin
that's the last clang I'll hear now
The fridge is but dry
when it comes to the beer stow

What a fool lost his plunder
'cause his mind was but under
the foley once asunder
the vale the week's blunder

Fat tire's the choice
Not a bike but a brew
a delicious new belgium
styled ale to chew

Not chewy like most
but delicious to boast
or toast with a glass
in your hand to the host

I could keep on going
but the toffee's not done
toffee for banoffee
will be had 'til there's none

The fridge wins again in it's quest for glory
this silly old tale could be told as a story
at bedtime for children but not about ale
as little kids aren't ready for this little tale

It would be the frosting on the cake
The cherry on top
The soda pop bubbling over
at the soda pop shop

The sun on our faces
Eclipses don't stare
The orange face broken
and full of despair

What a beautiful thing
to see his head held low
World's view of us fuller
could finally again grow

Start over with Pence
I shudder to think
He'd still be better
than being on the brink

There's SO far to go
We're not even close
to finding the answers
to questions from all folks

Both "sides" red or blue
have some learning to do
Can connect if we try
It's what we must do

In closing I find myself
tearing up a bit
This place that's so beautiful
could work if we commit

To stand together among friends
and foes all the like
I know it's not all rainbows 
and kumbaya despite

Find strength in the light
Find strength in the day
Find strength in the night
Find strength in what's right