I remember burning
trash in autumn
walking out after dinner
in the crisp twilight
a chilly breeze
tossing the paper sack of trash
in the old rusted-out
blackened barrel
taking a match to something thin
toilet paper
or newsprint
watching it catch and blaze up
throwing its warmth
maybe stepping back a couple of feet
if it got too hot
lost in it
soul aglow
mesmerized and at peace in the flames
and I remember them dying
down
shivering
walking back to the house
to the blue light of the television
and the cold white
faces.