Ravings of a Rabid Werewolf - Poetry by Wolf - 42. The Gates of Hell

Flames and wind swirl around

As the foul air tries to choke us

And embers fall like rain

We have passed through the Gates of Hell

Tears of an angel fall

Granting us a short-lived reprieve

Yet our foe soon regroups

As the fierce battle rages on

Exhaustion reigns king here

In this battlefield between worlds

Yet we march on and fight

To close the fiery Gates of Hell

I’ve been working the fire lines in New South Wales, Australia for the last seven days and expect to be here for the next several weeks. As a reserve firefighter in the US, I felt it was my duty to volunteer as soon as help was requested. Trying to put the unimaginable into words is not easy, but it gives my mind a way to process what I’m witness to in the moments before much needed sleep sets in.

If you feel so inclined, please consider donating to the Australian Red Cross to help with relief from these devastating bushfires. Or just to the Red Cross in your individual country.