Redwood
Poetry

Ashes in Your Eyes

Meghan Malone

October 2020
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When fire roars
And smoke rises
The whole world
Just improvises

People seem to forget
Fire affects more than a few
And you can’t solve the world’s problems
Sitting on a pew

Because the ashes travel
As far as the eye can see
And when they fall
It’s hard to disagree

That they look like darkness
Smell like the dead
And breathing them in
Fills you with dread

They sound like hate 
Feel like rage
And when there are too many
You’re locked in your own cage

They fall like snowflakes
And snowflakes they could be
If not for the people 
Who had to flee

Had to flee from the fire 
Had to flee from the smoke
Because no one could breathe
And they were starting to choke

So don’t look up
Don’t go outside
But if you truly must
I implore you
Hide

Because I promise to you
This is no disguise
Looking up will only get you
Ashes in your eyes

And when you get ashes in your eyes 
The world starts to blur
Until you can never truly see things
The way they once were

Your eyes sting
And will continue to burn
Just like the great fire
You hope 
Will never return

But you know it will
It will happen again
You just don’t know
How long from now
Until then

So keep your mouth shut
Your eyes sealed tight
And maybe then
You can sleep through this long night
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