Photo: George Mill, Mallacoota.
Major fires burn across four states, two states have declared a state of emergency, the main fire in Western Australia is contained, but the east-west national road link is closed.
“The Monster is on its way to us ….” Liv Casben, Bateman’s Bay.
The Place Is On Fire
The warnings have been made,
get out now before its too late,
and you sit waiting,
weighing the moment,
counting the imminent loss
as the glow gets closer
and azure turns to puce,
smoke fills your lungs,
while it sounds as if you’re
standing near roaring surf,
as the monster draws near,
and soon enough whole
twigs and sticks ablaze
float past on thick
thermal waves and
sparks catch in dry grass,
the place is on fire,
down to the water we go.
©Paul Vincent Cannon
Paul, pvcann.com
Our thoughts are with you.
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Thank you so much Ruth, very kind.
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What a tragedy
🔥🔥🔥
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The loss of lives and built environment are great, but the loss of flora and fauna is immense, very sad. Thanks Luisa.
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Really sad…
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Yes 😦
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❤
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Stay safe. Monitoring from afar and horrified to say the least. Climate change deniers continue to deny but the flames, the destruction, and the burnt out smoldering remains can’t be denied. “The Place Is On Fire” is spot on. Again … stay safe.
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Fortunately I’m a very long way away, but we wait to see what happens in our patch, one lightening strike and off it goes. Many thanks.
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Pingback: The Place Is On Fire – a poem by Paul Vincent Cannon — parallax – Does Anyone Know Where I Set My Cup of Coffee?
Many thanks.
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I’ve been watching it on the news – horrific. Hope there is reprieve soon.
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Yes, the Eastern authorities are waiting to see the weather conditions for Saturday which might exacerbate the crisis.
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Keeping you in our thoughts.
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Thank you, there are many over east who need it.
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Stay safe, Paul. Here in California, we share a similar fate with our wild fires–now more fierce and more difficult to contain and extinguish.
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Yes, that’s it, much worse, we wait here in the west to see if anything starts. Thank you.
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Read this morning that American firefighters are on their way to Australia to join your teams on the front-line.
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Yes, always a great thing, some came from New Zealand, and some from Mexico too, amazing generosity.
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I feel the heat and fear reading this. Stay out of harms way.
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Fortunately I’m a whole two states away, but we wait to see if any start here, as they do every summer, but now, much worse.
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And … many thanks.
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Are you safe?
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Completely safe, I’m in the West the fires are on the eastern seaboard. I’ve been through a few though. The one big one in our state is now contained but that is 1, 200 kms away. We’re hoping we don’t get any this year, but …
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Oh gosh. What a nightmare! Glad you are safe this time.
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Yes, though I have friends near those fires, horrible.
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I just can’t imagine. Too many fires all over this world/earth.
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Yes, we’re in deep trouble
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And thank you Ruth.
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earth spoke and no one listened, now she is raging, and some still remain passively ignorant. time for the few to conquer the many
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We must and now, thank you so much Gina, yes, it is imperative.
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I concur with the comments of your other readers.
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Many thanks Liz.
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Keep safe, my friend. The responsibility for this falls on my shoulders, and everyone else in the western world. Let this be a wake up call, but meanwhile … please keep safe.
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Many thanks Jill, I am very safe, until one starts here of course. Yes, I hope this will translate into action.
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Where we live, we can see and smell the haze that’s burning from the Gippsland fires. I feel incredibly sad for the people who’ve lost their homes and livelihoods, and all the animals…
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I too feel sad for the loss, yes the flora and fauna is grievous loss. Thank you Kathy. what a mess.
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet and commented:
Australia is BURNING!!!
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It got worse today, one fire is as big as Manhattan.
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Seems like the whole east coast is on fire!! Awful!!
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It’s huge, not seen before.
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So very sorry, Paul, to see and hear all about the fires all across Australia!! Keeping you and your country in my thoughts and prayers and hoping the rest of the world takes heed and takes action about Climate Change!! Awesome post and photo!!
Chuck
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Thank you for the thoughts and prayers, and for the encouraging comments.
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Be safe, My Friend! I’ll keep those prayer coming!
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Yes, and thank you 🙂
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A tragic reality for many of our fellow Australians whilst our Govt procrastinates and prevaricates
>
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Yes, so agonising, this could have been better prepared for.
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Such heartbreaking devastation. Praying for rain🙏🏻
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That would be a welcome miracle.
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I send you healing rain in every thought!
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