unintended, not unexpected / in the deep woods, a pretty little girl / wandered / & when she saw / the fire, she leapt to action / no hesitation / she knew little of fire / O yes it must be dangerous / best controlled by smothering / she decided / she ran towards it and began to / throw everything / everything she could find / leaves, twigs, pieces of
wood

fed, the small fire became a conflagration

soon / the people / nearby villagers / the ones who lived closest / saw the fearsome glow / large & loud / its roar & the snapping / of bones as it ate through the wilderness / everyone came running / carrying water and sand / put out the fire / satisfied by the smoke and steam / this particular fire was out / the people had other things to do / rushed back / got on with the demands of their lives / shackles and strings / left dangling / shit I gotta 

                               “But what of me?” said the little girl, feeling ignored.

                              “We dislike you very much,” said an equally small child.

                              “Why?”

                              “You are very stupid and put us all in danger,” said the village child.  “Who sees a fire 
                              and throws in fuel unless they want to see things burn?”

                              “That wasn’t my intention,” said the girl, twisting a golden curl around one finger, tears 
                              welling in her eyes.  This had always worked for her in the past.

                              “I can’t see why that matters,” said the other.

& the girl / pouting / curls sag stomp foot / just a bitty bit / a little afraid of the other / child / wiser / offers a bargain / if / you leave now and take your footprints / on your way out / I’ll forget / my anger / become grateful / twisting / all these events / behind us / the gift of a fire made big / seen / after all, fires can burn / in secret for years / 
deadly 

                              “How brave of me,” sniffled the girl, bright once more.  

village child bites down / says nothing / dog takes a bone / might gnaw / might grind / fast into splinters / before long / wolf teeth know what they need / hunger, comfort, sharpening / we don’t ask / & silent she walks away / before an opinion/ escapes / trees all around stand / still / surrounding the little girl / & say nothing / rooted when the fire / exploded / blackened / more char than wood / the woods / never spoke again / & the girl walked on / skip / 
returning to her / 
step