Fire! Fire! Fire! - pipTalk Forums

How to Join	Member's Area	Private Library	Search	Sanctuary		Login
Main Forums	Discussion	Tech Talk	Mature Content	Archives	A home without a wall, Our haven without ends, A circle we all call Our Family of Friends!

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

0 posted 2012-10-07 06:49 AM

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

This happened in a little settlement by the name of Walker Creek, Arkansas. It was before I was born when the forest caught fire. Some didn't make it out, but my grandparent and their family, including my mother paddled their way to safety.

The dinner bell tolled
It wasn't dinner
It was early morning
The waning moon was high
Morning had settled in heavy as could be
The dinner bell roused the family
They smelled smoke
Before they saw fire
The woods surrounding them
Fiercely
Dramatically
Burning
Deadheading toward the house
The morning sun shone through the smoke
Causing the water in the creek
To appear to be on fire
Horses in the barn
Neighed and whinnied
As the fire reached the hay inside
No hope for the horses
Everybody scrambled together
Looking for a way through
The wrath of the approaching inferno
No where to go
Flames bearing down on three sides of them
Only possible way to flee
Was Walker Creek whose bank
Fifty yards from the house
Wooden boat tied to a pine sapling
The family of seven
Had no choice
They ran toward the creek
And the boat
Down the creek they paddled
Out of danger
Leaving all their dreams
Behind them in the house
In the wake of
Moonless, dark water

©September 16, 2012 / Jerry Pat Bolton

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

secondhanddreampoet
Member Ascendant

since 2006-11-07

Posts 6394
a 'Universalist' !

1 posted 2012-10-07 02:31 PM

v. well 'penned' ...

fine 'slice-of-real-life' write !!

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

2 posted 2012-10-07 02:41 PM

Many thanks, Bruce, I always respect your comments.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

3 posted 2012-10-07 09:26 PM

Have seen forest burn from a distance and have seen the aftermath, but never on a personal basis ... it always happened to someone else, though I am intimately familiar with house fire, though not total destruction. Great piece my friend.

j.

JerryPat2
Member Laureate

since 2011-02-06

Posts 16975
South Louisiana

4 posted 2012-10-07 09:52 PM

Thanks, J, as I explained, this happened before I was born. So it is word of mouth.

~*~ If they give you lined paper, write sideways. ~*~

	⇧ top of page ⇧
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format.