Some cannot see the beauty
In a burned-out forest
So I find it for her
In a burned-out forest
So I find it for her
Enveloped in hot mist rising
From boiling waters percolating
On fires deep underground
While dusk falls hard upon us
Midway Geyser Basin
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming, United States of America
Taken while traveling, 1996
In 1988, fires burned throughout much of Yellowstone National Park, where a “natural burn” policy allowed naturally occurring fires to complete their natural cycle — nature’s way. This, of course, ran afoul of public opinion, which believes the beauty of nature is constant, consistent, and should always be in flower, but for short seasonal transitions.
They forget that nature, from time to time, requires the regenerative cleanse of fire. In a hundred more years, perhaps, our great grandchildren will thank us for letting it burn. But I am thankful already.
I wrote this with two photo challenges in mind…
This week’s WordPress Photo Challenge, Enveloped
And also this week’s One Word Photo Challenge: Hot.