Flat earth

today the earth turns a corner
parallel lines remain apart forever no matter how far we look

far is redefined with smoke, fire and asphyxiating air

the valleys have erased the trees and lakes and rivers we admired yesterday,
the side of the road is flattened, sky the mirror till the next corner
where the rock wall turns in an impossible angle
throws off shabby heat-dried grassy twiggy garments
shuffles the flaming rags to invisibility

another corner, a little farther down
a further immolation
black smoke pillar stark against the omnipresent grey
at its foot a burning seed
blue orange yellow
once a late model SUV,
roots past the melted tires
ignites the road
melts asphalt
crumbles cement
remakes the world