C. E. O’ROURKE
All is not lost in
this little death
as fire rages through the forest
pine cones burst open
create new life
after so long being ordinary
time to uncover the core
unencumbered
by the hard shell of waiting
this alchemy
requires intense heat
wise women know
as the Pine knows
the advantage of delayed bloom
is that it doesn’t matter now
what anyone thinks
this is freedom
the fire of my flourishing
will burst open in due time
the serotinous cone blooming
like a flower
curling back onto itself
releasing the resinous constraints
exploding embryonic ingenuity
proliferous potential
like perfect fireworks
on warm soil
worth the wait