Regardless of Us

Floating dust and ash

Muddy footprints, rocks in shoes –

Soil for things to grow.

Forests set ablaze,

First-degree and four-alarm –

Crackling in the hearth.

Icy, slipp'ry roads,

Spills, and floods, and tears, and still –

Nourishing to drink.

Polluted, hot, stale,

Smoky smoggy heavy foul

And yet – breath of life.