Respect the ashes of old fires. Do not
touch hopeful matches to them. Do not
douse them in water & kick at the muck.
You will only waste your matches
& muddy your boots.
Respect the ashes of old fires.
Bury them gently,
lay them down to a peaceful sleep
beneath handfuls of fragrant earth,
and leave them there to rest.
In a dozen years, or a hundred,
flowers may yet grow
upon that silent mound. And no one who sees them
will know
they sprang from ruins.
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