The crossing fire

Man walks forward
So slow
Rumbling echo
Definite steps from darkness
Stop...waiting
Ethereal orange, yellow flame
Seeps from the ground
Air begins burning
As gas, volatile
Billows from below
Burning higher, full balloons of fire
In front, behind
Bursts of explosive heat, plumes higher
Deafening rage of fire
Engulfed, man's image vaporized
Thunderous flames of horror
Yellow, orange, crimson waves
Takes man away
And flames subside to nowhere
As memory's horror vanishes
Into blackness, distant space
Nothing remaining, but darkness
Still
Silence
No body here now
Emotions, thoughts, life...cleansed by fire
Between here and there


Images courtesy of www.billviola.com and www.sfmoma.org