Bushfire

• Alice Henry, Grade 4
• Poetry
• 2020

I am the volcano erupting fear in people,
I wonder if my ashes are as black as a shadow,
I hear the bush bawling to death,
I see the remains of once a whispering tree that went thud on the ground as it burnt,
I want more fear,more trees thudding and to be alight forever,

I pretend I’m not a hungry lion gaining on food,
I feel free running in the bush making more sparky,orange lights flicker,
I touch the nearly burnt trees before they come crashing to the ground as quickly as a dingo,
I worry lightning fast water will put my beautiful and lively flames out,
I cry as a beastly billabong overflows,

I understand why the grown up trees cuddle close to their children and cry for help
I say nothing is more beautiful than a fire's flames,
I dream one day I will be the prettiest,flaming fire in the world,
I try to give more shoots as small as needles to the baby kangaroos,
I hope I will never be put out again,
I am a volcano erupting fear in people.