The last day of April brings the end of National Poetry Month, so I want to share a poem with you today. These words, and the accompanying image, emerged from a recent walk at the Decorah Community Prairie. I couldn’t stop thinking about the necessity of prescribed burns for welcoming new life, both on the prairie and within our lives. How have you experienced this in your life?
Prescribed Prairie Burns
Ash–
Witness, as incense,
To loss,
To all that we’ve lost,
Across
Years, and tears, turned to
Dust.
Today, it harbors
Life,
Nearly overlooked
Green stems.
On waves of sun, sweet
Rain–
Anchored roots, grounded,
Rise.