"After the Fire" by Christopher Raley

When the wind had blown against the smokeand cleared the valley, the sun shone its light unveiled until the storms came and rain relieved the blackened hills with the moist promise of green.

I believe I'm blinded by the things I've taught myself to see. The days, the dreams, the thoughts curtain my eyes while you search them for one sparkling attention. Then I wake to find the years of us you hold, not shown in age, but hidden for me alone; our youth's blossom not once taken, not had and lost, not dying.