NIGHT OF FLAMES


Frightened we looked on
As the flames wreaked havoc
The hill took on a look of terror
The grass burned into the night

The sky turning black and orange
Men scaling up and down with hoses of water
Cries of fear and desperation
' Wet the roofs, save your homes'.

Too young to help or understand
The children stood looking through windows
Tears pour from small eyes
Hour after hour

When the morning finally came
All was blackened and smoldering
Not a house was lost
The alien remains of another world

In the months to come
The grass returned green
Again we played on the friendly hill
All our fears gone in youthful memories

Michael V Hechtman Copyright 2000