27

we were young we were trouble they

knew us by our answering machine

messages we set fires in their faux

fireplaces   

#katyamills

fall.20

fall like a charred

anthem our throats

coated with smoke

Sacramento

on all sides surrounded

by fire

from a distance

the prayer

subsequently

the sea

from a distance

the prayer

subsequently

the sea

#katyamills

pyro.cumulo.nimbus

o heavy cloud made of timber 

nuclear bloom over our 

reckless

global

nebulous 

careless affairs

breaking the 

sky 

the fire 

in my belly 

will not be subsumed

i offer these 

ashes

#katyamills

defend us

the lashes defended our eyes

from snowy ashes

in 72 hours across california

over 10,000 lightning strikes

over 300 fires

we dropped orange 

dystopian tracks they 

could not defend

us from tears

#katyamills

2

rolling 2

several miles away from here the land and the towns have been flattened by fires in a week, even good Snoopy lost his doghouse. my problems got smaller overnight. i had to cover my bowl or else the cat might get into it. someone i don’t care for waved hello. i turned into a number and embraced the rolling 2. all my intentions came horrifically true, now i gotta face the world and do what i do. i am blessed to be needed and seen and write books. there’s light from the window discrediting our features. i will turn the blinds and show you some love. we can make it today, i know we can.