Charred Remains

Charred Remains

This month weighs heavy on the heart
Goes around in circles in my mind
It throws my psyche upside down
It conjures up far, far memories
And brings them side by side with yesterday’s events.

Charred remains of homes and people’s lives
Twisted metal, melted plastic and glass
Rubble, burned out buildings, remains of cars and trucks left on the streets
Not even their armor or getaway speed could save them
The fire pierced and outran them all.

Charred remains, ashes, flakes and mounds of white and gray
Neither the best of minds nor God can reassemble or bring them back to life
For those who lost it all and for those who now will have no memory
Of having walked the old streets, talked to those who lived and perished there
The fire choked and engulfed them all

I’ve sat around campfires in my youth and teaching days
Watched flames flicker into the night, savoring sacrificed wood
Felt the heat, adjusted where I sat or stood to keep the smoke at bay
Close yet far enough, the heat warm and giving
A fire inside a rock circle yields a different purpose

Words of wisdom, from the heart or an acknowledgement of someone
A name on a piece of paper, a poem, a prayer, placed into the fire
A moment of silence, but for the hiss and crackle and whispers in the rising smoke
Sunset to sunrise, from night to another day, fresh plumeria blossoms scattered in the bay
Namaste, Lahaina, and to your people, ho’oponopono