A Fire Named Chico

 

It begins so very small

   hidden, no problem no name

Spark from a mower,

   careless campfire

Seldom lightning but matters not,

   till the Santa Anna’s blow like a hurricane

 

Winds, dry from the desert

    fueling, fanning the fire

Moving with speed

    agility that cannot be imagined

Suddenly upon you

    heart stopping, situation dire

 

Of course, now it will be named,

    the news brings viewers

Plundering the countryside

    taking property, killing hundreds, maybe more

The Chico fire, has been named

   so now valiantly it can be tamed

 

Fighters fight, and sometimes die

    saving families flee

Paradise lost, dream destroyer,

    exhaustion and loss of property

     a suffering that lives on

As viewers we’re stunned by all that we see

 

And yet nonsense of all nonsense

   it will be fixed, we are told

Greatest climate we’ll have,

   if only they’d rake the leaves

A chance to united and support

   lost to a deal that must be sold

 

Those in Chico’s way

  care not about politics and news

As the fire is tamed and they are forgotten

  until mud-slides inevitably came

And paradise is reminded again

  about democratic blues

 

God bless those that will suffer

   for they will suffer long

They will be put to test of recovery

  of insurance, of health, by Chico

Long after the news and politicians care

  about what went wrong