Smoke fans out from the fire
travelling hundreds of miles
in search of its own demise

But it cannot escape the heat
however far it flees from the flames
the sun will still have its way

Clouds provide no relief
it has been 49 days since last rainfall
the sky is empty

Or is it a case of misplaced irony—

Trapped between sky and earth
mitigating otherwise oppressive heat
wishing for rain…

(5 August 2017)