Everything Which Burns

Everything which burns

is not consumed, says Augustine.

Thus matter endures.

The ashes remain.

They may be stirred by more than wind.

There are still folktales.

A bird be-myrrhed and to blazes gone,

with feathers gold relucent

flies to the new sun.

A fire lizard shakes off glowing specks

and may cure some or other ill

before bringing rain.

If it truly is

the fire next time, we know ashes

begin, as much as end.