Fire Burns Through

When the fire burns
the Great Oak Tree,
the Rowan,
or the Yellowwood,

When it burns through-
insiduous at first, scattering small animals
with its smoke,

When it burns through-
a tired, old earth-stalker
settling at the base of the great tree,

When it burns through-
hades-fingers tearing,
tearing through the skin and sinews into the fat flesh

When it burns through-
that tall trunk,
scaling the broad beams like a cat burglar on heat

When it burns through-
the shining sundrop-soaked leaves,
steaming and shriveling into ash

When it burns through-
to the skyward shafts,
splitting their silver selves

When it burns through
and the stationary, ageless beast
crumples,
spiralling finally down, down
into the dirt

When it burns through-
till even the fire dies,

the roots remain,
entombed
in the ancient earth