A CARTOGRAPHY OF FIRE

Lost in a forest the cartographer forgot to chart, we overheard the only available radio
station broadcast an interview with the local fire marshal: "the people we arrested proved
to have nothing to do with the strange fires, which broke out under the noses of
investigators. The more we look, the deeper the mystery."

Then you, captain incendiary, took the cue to dump gasoline all over our only map, light
it, and declare, "We will find the source! Let fire decide our itinerary!"

At first we cursed profusely, but upon examination of the routes outlined by ash and
singe, the map's burnt edges crisp as freshly paved blacktop roads, a thrill took hold of us
all: we whispered at first, and gradually, began to suspect that we were traveling to the
storied home of all fires of unknown origin.

We followed our blackened map so carefully we no longer remembered our beginnings
and entered the secret confederacy of heat and light emanating visibly.

Perhaps the firemaster, self-professed mastermind, and his evolutionaries, dressed in
scarlet attire, proved too convincing when he invited us to join the society of human
fireworks. "Our children, to learn grace, carry nitroglycerine, jump fiery ropes, and ride
spinning pinwheel contraptions that, at high velocities, inginte into flame," he explained.
"During adolescence, our fingertips slowly retain and finally generate flame. We are able
to perform great leaps and be colorfully explosive. We are forever trying to introduce this
possibility to your world, and thus must behave secretively, like invisible assassins."

So we became members of a dangerous otherworldly circus. We return to the civilized
world in the form of a sparkling array of light that excites oohs and ahs from a crowd of
spectators, and disappear into the crevices of the night to light inexplicable fires.

MATT SCHUMACHER

From "Fire Diary" by Matt Schumacher, Well Lit Press 2008 Chapbook Competition Winning Entry
Final Judge: Matthea Harvey
To Press: Summer 2008