It’s not what you think; images and ink
never mind Ansible development
we barely communicate as it is
We have slowly allowed fires
to take over talking for us
Cracking, the red flames
make perfunctory smoke.

Maybe someone will see wet vellum
Oh!  they will say, hopping up and down
There are patterns in these clouds
I see elephants and the end of cooperation

Like you, I guard my symbols
and prod them into talking about Love
I use twigs from all the dead trees
to kindle this tiny sparking blaze.

The vast greenish plain is all around
There is work that needs doing
but the bonfire is razing all the world
and for now, at least,
we cannot leave its side.