Ball of Fire
Afternoon sun
Blazed hot
Scorching all life
Plants drooped
Trees stood transfixed
People remained inside
Hibernating.
Screams of a woman
Pierced the afternoon
Dark smoke rose
From outside
The smell of burned flesh
And hair filled the air
The woman stood
Bathed in petrol and fire.
The fire spread
The house fell apart.
Terrified children
Fled weeping
Men scampered
Like rats.
Smoke clouds rose
And covered the sun
Light faded
Afternoon turned grey.