Forest Fire Revisited
Each day, driving between William Lake and Grand Rapids, we pass the site of the 2008 forest fire. One evening near sunset the light is perfect, and Dave and I stop to take photos.
The ground is green, but above where there should be canopy is only superstructure. The trees slowly disintegrate, branchlet to branch to trunk to stump. As extremities crumble, so the bark unfurls to reveal white skeletons beneath. These bones are desiccated, hardened to freeze-dried iron toughness, but as summers pass they too will fall to time and decay.
No birds sing, and the wind soughs gently between the trunks; I wonder if it wonders why it makes so empty a sound. Under the cold setting sun it is an eerie place.
We contemplate for a minute or two and snap a few more shots. It is definitely time to see what is on the menu in Grand Rapids. Somewhere warm, where there are people.
© Graham Young, 2011
Ancient Shore 
Have you ever considered writing a book about … stuff? Just… generally about stuff, or the world, or something like that? You have such a lovely way with words, that you could write your experience at a Superstore and it would be magic.
Thank you, Maya and Peter. Maya, I would love to write a book about stuff in general; these meagre posts are about all I find time for at the moment, but perhaps some time in the future I will be able to begin merging these bits into a more coherent form. Meanwhile, I am actually writing a piece about “stuff”; maybe I will push it forward in the queue for you.
Graham: Interesting reflective words and pictures of utmost desolation…. the silence overwhelming…
PL
As always, sublime imagery. My fav are the top and bottom images.
Thanks David. I hope that your strike is close to being settled!
Where is this Grand Rapids?
Yes, I too appreciate your musing on the earthy world.
Kate, thank you for your comment. Grand Rapids MB is 400 kilometres NNW of Winnipeg; a long way from almost anywhere populous, in other words!