Lines on the fire
I wrote this poem for my brother, who lost his home in the Clayton Fire, in Lower Lake, August 14, 2016.
I have been encouraged to share this poem, as others felt that this poem might be meaningful to others.
This Old House…. On Second Street:
Ghostly white ashes blanketed the land.
A two story chimney, standing,
reaching, grasping towards a seared blue sky,
was left, stranded all alone.
After the fiery glow of orange red flames had leaped from windows,
an inferno popped open closed doors.
The black roof tried to hold together the impossible.
A wave of fire had suddenly barreled down upon the towns old streets.
Wind whipped flames licked at their running heels,
as terrifying fire was devouring families’ once peaceful homes.
Now torched, scorched and crackling.
The sounds deafening.
One after the other homes fell to the ground.
Pushed dominos ignited.
Click, click, click,…. Click.
Boom.
Kitchen tables sitting at the center of the homes, melted into the dirt.
Hand painted plates, antique silverware, family bowls, all gone into smoke and ashes.
Summers garden bounty charred to black dust,
falling into layered memories of apples and plums.
This home built in 1887,
lived through many family’s feet climbing wooden stairs.
Long banister worn smooth by hands moving up and down their lives.
The sea ferrying Captain who built his home, knew how to build a ship.
Sweet wood. Sturdy ship.
Strong house. One hundred twenty -nine years sailing through changing of the centuries.
This Old House standing boxy tall.
Farmers’ white painted walls survived ‘the great earthquake of 1906’.
Other fires had passed on by.
Trees planted perfectly all-round the flat corner yard. Trees for shade. Trees of fruit.
Everyone passing by would gaze at the tall beauty of 2nd Street.
This Old House of many rooms lived on the same street, in the same spot for 129 glorious years.
This historic Home could not run when the flames ate uninvited at the kitchen table.
Was left gallantly watching through weeping windows;
as those this Home loved were able to move quickly from the greedy final flames.
The Home’s prayer’s lifted up beyond determined burning flames:
‘…to be able to sit again, at another Home’s table, a table laden with fresh fruit’.
Postscript:
They caught the arsonist the next day who burnt down the town and my brother’s old house.
The arsonist was sitting at the evacuation shelter ‘watching’ homeless tears of grief… falling.
Cheryl Ban, Santa Cruz
Thank you
A big shout out to the Lake County Fair for inviting students to visit the barns and exhibits again this year! Upper Lake Elementary School brought our kindergarten and first grade classes, and the 4H docents took us on tours through the barns. Kids got to see farm animals up close and personal, and even pet a few.
The Lake County Ag Center and Farm Bureau had goodie bags for teachers full of informative and fun stuff. We really appreciate being able to enrich our students’ experiences … Thank You!
Arden Hyatt, Upper Lake Elementary School
An important decision
The November 8th election will be the most important election in our history and I don’t care what your political preference is because for the first time in my life this election is not a contest between the political ideologies of the democrats and republicans it is about what the priorities of our Country will be after November 8th. Will returning to and once again embracing our traditional values and patriotism be our priority or will continuing on the path we are on to globalism and one world order be the choice of the voters?
Before you vote I would ask you to think about America and ask yourself if you want her to survive as the Country our Founders gave to us because that is what this election is about. Fortunately, people are beginning to understand this issue. When you see an outpouring of people who are crossing the lines of old political alliances and supporting the belief of America first it is inspiring and tells me that many American people are not willing to embrace open borders and globalism just for the sake of voting a party line ticket.
This election is about bringing back to life the belief that people can rule themselves, that we should be a government of the people, by the people and for the people and that all men are created equal with their God given rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If you chose globalism I guarantee you just as the PC movement has silenced your voice and curbed your opinions your other rights will disappear too including the right to bear arms and freedom of religion. It is inevitable.
When you see traditional big name supporters of past political conservative ideologies like the Bush family, the Koch Brothers, Gov Kasich, Gov Romney and major political pundits like George Will and Bill Crystal jumping the political ship and crossing over to the other side you know they are doing so to try and retain power and money because it is clear to anyone who looks; Clinton promises more of the same and those named are the ones who brought us here to their idea of utopia to start with. Oppositely, Trump is promising a return to law and order, closed borders, and our Constitution meaning exactly what it says and placing the American people first and the elites see their empires and world influence diminishing greatly.
Brexit was the citizens of the UK telling the globalist to take a hike.
I hope you will join me and slam the door on globalism too by voting America first and cast your vote for Donald Trump and Mike Pence for President and Vice President.
PS Vote Moke for District 1 too.
Bill Wink, Hidden Valley Lake
