"The New Green Will Bloom Again", charcoal, acrylic paint, pencil on paper

The Charcoal

From the burned out forests of Colorado, you sent me the charcoal

four distinct chunks, porous, black and cracked

like layers of earth’s strata, the story of it’s life

now in my hands, smudged with remembrance.

I will let these majestic trees speak, even from their ashen body

of what heat and fury, what roar and sounding

as animals fled, humans gathered and winged ones took flight.

And when I cook my food slowly

like I do every season, the wood from the forest my fuel

I say a prayer, to the glory of trees and life

to the brave people who donned their suits and honor

and headed into the chaos of fire

to the ones who didn’t make it

and the ones who did, the new green

will bloom again.

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Ashes to Art Online Auction

• When: Oct. 7 through 21

• Where:
www.BiddingforGood.com/ TheAshestoArt Project2012

• Information: The Ashes to Art Project Facebook page or TheAshesToArtProject@gmail.com