I. The Wildness of Fires

It starts as flame until atoms ionize,
freed electrons releasing light,
photons of fire to spread

into plasma, hotter temperature,
99.9% of universe that’s made
from this fourth matter

that spans and rises
even unto stars and sun
toward galaxies beyond—

releasing solar, stellar winds.

II. Electromagnetic Radiation

Fire comes in different colors
from carmine to white (purple
and full spectrum

in between),

this electromagnetic radiation
depending on what’s burn-
ing temperature and chemical—

with a little salt for adding too
(if needed for seeing, believing)—
wavelength up, frequency down.

The oxygen and molecules—gas—
heat and fuel, providing punch—
combustion—making it all happen

complete or otherwise—
this time, orange-yellow.

III. The Transfer of Heat

Fire gives the hot for spread
of waves, density differences, molecules from atoms
of there being no stopping what’s made to excite,

oxygen along for the journey to lift heat up as needed
when down. Whether solid, liquid, gas, or wave
in space or object, conductible or otherwise,

heat moves in—speed-of-light change.

IV. The Taming of Ashes

There comes a residue after reaction—
combustion complete
to neither liquid nor gas, this

law of conservation—
from wood to coal—
matter not destroyed—

carbon to be particles
mostly of glass perhaps
or calcium compounds,

but dependent on type—
the what burned and how.

Then to disperse,
become the underground.

Poetry