Today I Learned that Cedar Trees are Highly Flammable

Supposedly cedars will burn quite savagely.
Violently.
I’ve never seen it 
But I have no reason to believe this false. 

I read that they don’t make good firewood
With their low energy density —
Effectively mere starters that quickly lose their usefulness, 
Leaving them with little value as fuel. 

I went on to learn that they’re best kept no closer
Than 100 feet from your home
Lest they, by flinging sparks willy-nilly,
End it.  

How quickly would an entire forest disappear
With trees so eager to burn and share?

How long could they throw their sparks
Stretching their flames high to the canopy
Each individual tree eager to go out in a blaze of
Hot, intense glory? Each one eager
To take their brethren down with them?
How long before they’d all be just
Gone?

What would the fire feel like to you 
If you were to approach the woods
In their final moments?
How close could you stand to the edge
Before you’d need to turn away
Choking on the corrupted air
Drenched with the wet heat
Your skin was desperately fighting to save you from?
Would your instincts send you fleeing?
Would you stand your ground
Staring in awe?
Would you fall to your knees in worship of nature’s temper
Marvelling at how suddenly and without mercy
Such destruction can dominate
Everything that surrounds it?  

Nothing lasts forever. 

When this forest’s time comes
Will it be a slow, rotting end?
Or will it go quickly
In a sudden blaze of glory?
Will the flames roar and dance with the fury
Of one desperately holding on
For every single minute they can
Refusing to go before they’re ready?
Or will they be eager just to be done with all there is
Transcend into piles of ash to be trodden into the ground
Or scattered in the wind?

Perhaps, more importantly
When it’s time for it to go
I wonder how far it could spread its will? 
What — who — will get caught in its reach 
Before being put to rest
Under a rain of smoldering embers?

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May 9. 2025