The Firefighter
The Firefighter
The sparks of neglect
of boundaries crossed
first catch onto the lurking dry foliage
of old wounds and suppressed fears
strengthening, spreading, speeding
the flame finds the winds of rage, more fear
like wildfire
tree by tree, branch by branch, leaf by leaf
the forest of happiness burnt black
the ash of blame have rained everywhere— on you, them, me
I am the burnt
I am the burning
I am also the blaze
but I am also the firefighter
holding the hose of hope
pouring kindness and love on everything
the foliage, the flames, the forest, the fire
the fears, the fury, the patterns, the pain
and with much patience and even more practice
the wildflower of joy blooms slowly but surely
accepting, forgiving, birthing, regenerating
the pitch black of the forest with its bright purple
I am the fire
I am the firefighter
I am also fireweed
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Written while grappling with the complex systemic paradoxes that are embedded in being human at this time in the world, while personally also grappling with pain from heartbreak and building self-love.