Forest Of Ashes Poem by Ananya N

In the sweltering heat of midday
Shadows of black smoke cloak the blue sky
As a crackling fire sets ablaze
The burning earth

A piece of wood ignites the flames
That burn an entire woodland
As a human hand stokes
The merciless wildfire

No branch remains for birds to rest their wings
Nor nests to croon for their fledglings
A breath of air
Chokes the lungs of the earth

The ashen woods burn until dusk
Marred by the charred remains of innocent life
Ashes fall from the leaden sky
Onto the smoldering fire

A patch of forest glows
Amidst the dying embers of the petulant fire
Fireflies illuminate the scarred woodland
All that illuminates doesn't burn