---

demise

the la fires
wolf down
homes
and buildings
in the palisades –
0% containment.
i walk outside
my home
40 miles
away
and swallow
a chunk
of dust
and debris
that wind carries
and deposits
into
my mouth.
my yard
looks like
the aftermath
of the storm
in the wizard
of oz.
i walk back
inside
and watch
the news.
fire, fire,
fire –
reporters
and civilians
playing with it –
literally.
the audio
cuts out
and my
fire alarms
screech.
the tv screen
flickers
and alerts
on my phone
go berserk.
my wife
gets home.
i go outside
to greet her
as the santa
ana winds
pick up
and trash
and leaves
tumble
across
our yard
like dice
down a
craps table.
telephone pole
wires whip
like ropes
being conducted
by a musher
of a
dog sleigh.
my wife
sees me
from her car
and shakes
her head,
sadly.
i lower
my eyes
at the great
demise.

---

 

Ken Kakareka is an American writer of works of fiction and nonfiction, such as BULLSHIT (Anxiety Press, 2024) and Summer of Irresponsibility (Alien Buddha Press, 2023). He is a Best of the Net nominee (2025). His work has appeared or is on its way in numerous rags including Gargoyle Magazine, A Thin Slice of Anxiety, The Gorko Gazette and New Pop Lit. A list of selected publications can be found at kenkakareka.com.