Defiance

Some demolition service took away your burned, hulk of a truck today.

How will I know if you’re home now?

Charred, skeletal forest casting fantastic shapes against the ash strewn, sandy soil, huge boulders emerge, blackened, surreal backdrop of what was home.

My lookout much less shaded than before, gazing into the valley 200’ below; There! The unmistakable silhouette of a puma. Dashing, momentarily exposed along the tree line of the seasonal stream. Long tail, ruddering her long sinuous, sensuous strides. Gone in an instant!

Coyotes still howl here at night. How did they survive? I watched as a red-tailed hawk leapt into flight. Screeching off of its steep, boulder top perch... soaring, up and away.

Maybe with all the chaparral burned away that old mine entrance will be exposed, or a bobcat, or mountain lion den.

Heavy redwood plank, notched to fit the gnarly trunks of the old twin oaks, all consuming monster, you missed my bench here... ha ha!

The great Witch Creek fire is out.

The aloe is blooming.