Mariah

Mariah:
("Away out here they got a name
  For rain and wind and fire
  The rain is Tess, the fire Joe,
  And they call the wind Mariah":
    Sam Cooke)

Plains grass waves straw brown,
Parched by the constant sun.
Heat lightning ignites,
Prairie fire begun.

Sparks becoming flames,
Mariah fans the blaze.
Blackened ashes left,
Buildings and fences raze.

Thick smoke billowing,
Deer, hares running ahead.
Some not fast enough,
Left behind, the charred dead.

Mariah is stilled,
The fire burns away.
Tess quenches earth's thirst,
Joe waits for a new day.