a tranquil spring afternoon today
burning the prairie warm sun
low breeze a thin line of fire
spreading across the brush-hogged
acre leaving black ash behind
two springs ago my daughter aided
this yearly burn but we never
got back summer or fall to see
the prairie in glorious bloom
it is one of my many regrets yet
regrets do not nourish and are best
squelched just like we beat down the
flames when edges begin to creep near
any hazardous out-of-bounds area