Heart Break

When I say my heartbreaks,
it breaks with the weight of the world
carried deep inside.

It breaks for the cougar and cubs
fleeing raging fire,
for the exhausted firemen and women
for the elderly evacuating with canes
and walkers; for the beloved pets
who are lost and frightened.

For lifetimes of memories turned to ash.

It breaks for all that is lost and will be
lost in weeks to come.

It breaks for the other hearts
that are breaking.

It breaks so far open
it is pulverised to ash,
no shape left, just a fertile field
to grow love, compassion and kindness.

January 11, 2025

For the City of Angels, where I was born, where my mother and father met, where my father was a reporter for the L.A. Times for years, where I went to college, UCLA. Prayers and blessings to all. (Inspired by the line “When I say my heart breaks, by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer)