Where’s the Arsonist When You Need Him?

for Chris

like we learned these strokes
brush to find the use of paper
we lost fires, anger and revolution
in a unit of prayer that
scratches like a sunday morning lp
in the dissembled present living room
our nobler occupations around us
that would never stand before
in the bowing culture that found us
it’s the unexpected smoke that wakes
and becomes part of the family
busy with need for stolen flame
we waited too long in our connection
now it’s time to light this tinder