Sultry Whispers
by Louise Gallagher

Sky 
Azure bleeds to ash 
smoky haze curls and writhes 
spectral dance 
carried south on winds 
heavy with embers' breath.

Forest
Trees bow low 
leaves droop, listless 
weighted with aphids' silent feast
the forest stands weary. 

Grasses
Each footfall stirs a dust devil 
parched grasses sigh 
whispering ancient pleas 
for twilight's cool caress.

Sun
Unmoved, temperature rising
blazing sun scorches 
deaf to murmured prayers.

The photograph was taken on our drive back from Vancouver last August. The fires were blazing throughout the interior of BC and the sky was filled with smoke, ash and fiery glows.

The air quality this morning was not great, visible smoke hung in the sky above. The heat, even at that early hour, felt oppressive and heavy.

The new normal is upon us as wildfires blaze through Alberta and BC and the winds carry the smoke wherever they blow, impervious to our human entreaties.