Fire works hard to say something beautiful
seared into the night
like a memory
fleeting burning bright
It’s simply chemical
Sulfide yellow, copper green
heavy metal precious under pressure
It can not be contained
and must break away
into twisting streaks of gold and violet
bursting violent, thunderous drums predicting battle
exquisite shards rain down like slick silvery tear drops
It’s comical really
crowds with necks craned
begging for the finale
staring skyward
that black blanket a mirror
looking back at us
yearning to rise above the ordinary day
to leave this earth and share a view with the Gods
to explode
and show our vibrant colors to the world
before they fade away
Fire works toward transformation
Our trials change us
but so do the flames of the hearth
what lies true in our hearts
family, friends, loved ones
warmed by the glow of those dancing flames
the smell of that perfect steak
searing over a bed of pulsing coals
on Independence Day
The art of life
If we’re lucky enough to be close
to witness that fantastic display
we are both frightened and delighted
we ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ and can not help but leave wanting more
We think fire works to consume everything
insatiable, leaving ash where once there was form
but not every spark is extinguished
We each hold our own
inner embers
tight and protected
sometimes things crack or shatter
and we cannot help but let them out
and watch them twist and flicker
rising, rising back to the source.
David Nelson
For Art John
4.11.21
About the author
David Nelson is the Director of Mixed Reality Research and Development at USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies. He leads research efforts on immersive user experience design and the power of storytelling to improve learning. He is an award-winning Director/Producer, working in feature films, documentaries, music videos and commercials. He is a recipient of a Hugo Award for Excellence in Television Documentary.
