Frank, a fine end piece.  My comments will be the usual - maybe some
articles could be cut, some changes in line breaks, and something about the
end.  Sorry I did not reply before, got behind.

and in the end

when the last naked flame is doused
and the fires are done
when even the roots and peat
have stopped burning
beneath the ground
and the rise of smoke
is not a threat
but the sign of a man
with charcoal and soot
spread across hands and face
who is at his rest with a cigarette (cut who is)

when finally
we have shot the last beast
burned or starving
and rebuilt the fences
around the long paddock
again (uct)
settled the insurance
to replace the houses and the homes (cut the second the)
turned back from volunteer
to farmer or townie
worker or unemployed
wife or husband

as we stare at the devastation
take our collective deep breaths (cut deep)
and brace ourselves
to endure once more
we can try then
perhaps (cut)
not to think
of fire

or the sound in the night (cut or)
of static on the radio
preceding a call-out
for assistance at lightning strikes
or outbreaks of grass

not to think about
the sparseness of pasture
and the tinder-dry scrub (cut and the)
or the fires last year (cut or)
and the one before

and the one before

for gods sake don't contemplate the drought (I wonder if this S is needed,
but I'm unsure.)
that may never end
that might break us like nothing
has broken us
ever before

and don't think of next year (cut and)

And an end piece needs a front piece.  What is the year like just before the
fires, the droughts start.  What hope exists working its way through
memories of the past few years?

Thanks much.

Gary




Feb CE Chaffin, Celebrations and Blessings at:
http://gardawg.homestead.com/gardawg.html --- Writer's Hood at
http://www.writershood.com/... Poets for Peace.... ¡Poemas sí, balas no!