Night of Tears

At night
the serpent
collected
its tears.

The birds
in the trees
bathed in their
own tears.

The tears
were tepid,
cold and warm,
this night

of such
suffering
as fire raged
all around.

Charred trees
and foliage,
ash everywhere
for miles.

None of
them started
this fire. All
of them will

have to
do what they
have to do
to survive.