Fireside Chat

Holly berries profuse on branches above
thick in clusters red against green
ornaments on an early Christmas wreath
or medals decorating a chest in the military

One spike in particular is especially festooned
near the top, standing out
high unlike me
all cynics’ evidence to the contrary

As the fire smolders it remains amazing to me
to see a massive pile of branches, limbs and leaves
turned into heat, smoke
and a relatively small pile of ash

Ash for compost, fertilizer, keeping away slugs
ash turned into soap, for melting ice, absorbing odors
how perfect is that
all from a spark and yard debris, cleanup on Isle Whidbey

Waste not, want not as the saying goes
make use of all the things you receive
it’s as if it is all part of a formula, destined to be
some grand plan of a hidden hand