Campfire

The best fire is a small fire, a slow fire

that flickers blue-red, whose voice is quiet,

a fire that makes little smoke and requires

the least pile of sticks to build and keep it

burning all night. A small fire warms our palms

as we lean toward it (so close that, not quite

touching, we share a common shadow), calms

our bloodrush and lets us breathe in its light.

Donny Davis, June 2007