The strength of community
By Barry Vitcov
Four years ago, horror struck Southern Oregon when the Almeda fire raged from the edge of Ashland through Talent, Phoenix, and into Medford. I remember the fierce morning winds, seeing the smoke just south of my home, and thinking something very bad was happening. We were all scrambling to find out what was going on, as normal news channels were disrupted and we relied on what bits of information we could glean from neighbors and the pipeline of stories that were circulating. One source of information came from YouTube videos posted by a couple of young men driving around Talent and Phoenix showing the massive destruction in very real time.
Diana Morley lived in Talent. Her home was one of the few that survived in her neighborhood. She and many of her friends later documented the tragedy in the book of pictures and poems “Oregon’s Almeda Fire.” She has written a poem capturing the spirit of community, which continues four years later.
My poem “The Cobbler” was written in gratitude for the rebuilding of the Malmgren Garage, now the Talent Gallery. It was a team of artists who reimagined a burnt-out shell and constructed a vibrant space for the arts.
From Loss to Renewal
By Diana Morley
Trying to decide, bake muffins or
walk by Bear Creek when black smoke
fills my kitchen window and gives
the answer, fill the car now—fast!
Stopped on Rte. 99 I see flames shoot up
a block away and gray smoke billow up
behind me in Ashland. I wonder,
is everything on fire everywhere?
But we who evacuate are the lucky
ones. Many caught out of town are not
allowed back in to save pets, valuables,
to grab a change of clothes—a trial
beyond my comprehension.
Residents who lost their homes
live for months on end in motels,
in any apartment for rent, or
with relatives in close quarters.
After the fire, townspeople rally for
all who’ve lost everything. Many
may have downsized when moving here
but how does one really get from some
to none?
Residents with homes donate from the heart
and post signs for services, spreading hope
and community love. At last, my neighbors
in their new homes rejoin old circles.
No longer in Talent, today I miss our
potlucks before the hilarity playing games.
I miss not being able to cross the street,
to walk down the block and see old friends.
But I’m so glad they’re home.
Diana Morley has published in print and online journals as well as publishing “Spreading Like Water,” a chapbook, “ Splashing,” a poetry collection (2019-2020), and “Oregon’s Almeda Fire,” a book of photographs and poems (2021) about the 2020 wildfire destroying much of two towns. After the fires she moved to Weaverville, N.C., where she walks around Lake Louise, while working on prompts. Back at home, she feeds squirrels out back when they jump up to the door handle, visible past her computer. She writes to connect with readers, hoping they will find the surprises she finds while writing.
The Cobbler
By Barry Vitcov
Long after the beast burned through
like a rabid overheated blast furnace
leaving behind a shell of masonry walls
and the memory of clay and kiln
where kinder fire and quiet labor
shaped pottery and made art
the spirit of a small place
gutted and cauterized
left abandoned among
twisted artisanal infrastructure
thousands of lives left empty,
homeless, with sad eyes,
the clothes on their backs,
a sense of place lost to the cinders
then you returned
surveying emptiness framed
by masonry walls
you a beacon of hope
securing resources to rebuild
a space for creating beauty again
cobbling together the town’s soul
Barry Vitcov lives in Ashland, Oregon, with his wife and exceptionally brilliant standard poodle. He has had three books published by Finishing Line Press, a collection of poetry, “Where I Live Some of the Time” in February 2021, a collection of short stories, “The Wilbur Stories & More” in June 2022, and a chapbook collection of poems “Structures” in May 2024. FLP will publish a novella “The Boy with Six Fingers” in February 2025.
Poetry Submissions Welcomed!
You are invited to submit original work to the Poetry Corner. There are only two restrictions: First, poems need to show a connection to Ashland and/or Southern Oregon. Your interpretation of that connection is fairly loose! Second, poems need to be aligned to the left margin. The publishing platform used by Ashland.news has issues with the creative use of space! There are no length restrictions but try to keep your poems to no more than 30 lines. Be sure to include the title of your poem, your name as you would like it to appear, the city or town in which you reside, and, if you wish, your preferred pronouns.
To submit poems, send to Barry Vitcov at haikubjv@google.com.
