- Serious -
The Bonfire
(Nov 2001)

Today I lit my autumn bonfire,
My horticultural funeral pyre.
I watched the flames leaping red
And sparks that flew around my head,
And the smoke stung my eyes.

I threw more leaves on with my fork
And through the smoke I saw New York
And the smoke stung my eyes.

I smelt the burning of animal hide
As "foot and mouth" spread countrywide
And the smoke stung my eyes.

I heard the screams as children ran
From bombs in Israel and Afghanistan
And the smoke stung my eyes.

I thought about the enormous waste
Brought about by hate and haste
And the smoke stung my eyes.

Then the smoke had gone, the flames had died
But not the flames I felt inside.
I kicked the embers and gently cursed,
 The fire gave one last crackling burst
And smoke stung my eyes.