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.