california by keith pearson

was god that let loose the lightning that sparked the fires that burned the trees.

 

we had no animals to set loose but were worried about the birds.

 

on tuesday we stood on the beach our backs to the sea watching everything we knew 

burn to smoke and cinder.

 

the waves at our naked feet pulled us in our thoughts on gods irony 

as the tide pulled us down drowning

 

the fire passing over our bewildered hands.

keith pearson was born and raised in new hampshire and works at a local high school in the math department.