When Death Crosses

Like soldiers, tall and proud, we stand,

Searching for light above the canopy,

When a fire creeps through,

We gather, chanting words of encouragement. 

Once the fire leaves us with devastation and chaos,

We resprout.

But this time is different,

The soldiers are suffocating.

But we have to be strong, for the animals.

Although there are no more koalas.

Except one.

The last koala clinging to us.

Desperate to escape the sparks of fire,

Ferociously licking at the protruding roots of nearby trees.

We try our best to cover the small grey koala,

But the flames surge upwards,

Dragging it down

Into the fire

And it’s gone.

Forever.