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Viewing comments for Chapter 47 "Fire and Smoke"
Free verse poems

26 total reviews 
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
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So you worked for the Forest Service too! You really ARE an outdoor lover, aren't you? I love being out in nature, but you have me beat by two hundred percent, at least.

Forest fires are supposedly nature's way of cleaning up the old and refreshing places, allowing for new growth before the balance between plants and animals is broken, or so I've heard. I think people try too hard to manage nature and tell her what to do, but she knows best. After all, she's been taking care of the planet since the beginning. :)

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2016
    Yes, I worked for the FS in my twenties, I made pretty good money for college on the fire crew :)

    You are right about the role of forest fires in nature. When we controlled fires, a huge problem was caused by the accumulation of dead trees and brush - creating hotter, bigger fires that are much more destructive.
    Carol
Comment from royowen
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Where I live in Australia we have frequent bushfires, the land near where we live is quite rural, but their is some wild bush land too. And where volunteers ply their dangerous trade, so grateful to these guys, and some brave souls have lost their lives in the process, but after a couple of years the land is revitalised, renewed, fire's not all bad, but the loss of stock, homes and lives is. Beautifully expressed and written in descriptive free verse Carol, so many smoked when I was young, including me! Great write. Blessings, Roy

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2016
    Lol, kind of funny to smoke on a fire crew. The hours of intense boredom, alternating with hard work in smoky forests made me want to smoke - go figure!
    Carol
reply by royowen on 29-Apr-2016
    It is ironic Carol, I heard somebody say, "if God meant us to smoke, He would have provided a chimney!" Hehe,
Comment from seaglass
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Every year it seems this is repeated as wild fires attack the North west. My prayers are always with them. It's,sometimes caused by man and sometimes by nature but my heart always aches for the homeowners, firefighters and animals. Your poem paints a clear picture

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2016
    Thanks Carolyn, I always worry about them. It is a dangerous job, for sure. The fire season could be bad this year down here,
    Carol
Comment from Liilia
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What an exciting and originally worded poem this is. It drew me right into the atmosphere of a raging fire, too big and powerful to control with man's biggest efforts. Amazing descriptions and images of the people, their reactions and a sense of helplessness in the face of nature's processes. I've never read a poem by anyone who had your first person experience of such a critical situation and amazed how gracefully and sensitively you developed this work. Can relate to the smoking, too, also having rolled my own. Thanks for sharing this "front line" experience.

 Comment Written 29-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2016
    Lol you've rolled some too, nice. I used to do that a lot - with tobacco, mind you. But not so much these days! I really loved the firefighting but now I have a desk job. Probably better once you get a little older :)
    Carol
Comment from Douglas Paul
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What a unique experience that must have been. You must have really felt part of a very special team. Your poem is once again enchanting. Well done, Carol

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 Comment Written 29-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2016
    Thanks, Douglas, it was quite an interesting time of my life. That fire was in such a beautiful area! Most of them were, actually.
    Carol
Comment from foxangie123
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I live the way you write and every time I learn something from it which is a very good thing on my end. This is wonderful too. I'm out of six and this is exceptional. Sending six bravos....l

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 Comment Written 29-Apr-2016


reply by the author on 29-Apr-2016
    Thanks, Angie,
    Carol