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'We Burn Good Together'

Nov. 30 marks the end of open burning season in Montana.
Karl Nousiainen

by Michael Revere

Starting fire in a downpour
is no problem for you and me.
We burn good together.

As we tend the late fall slash fire,
I say, "Sweat feels good."
You say I'm "nasty" and smile.
I see beautiful curves
outlined under your t-shirt.
A small, dried out spruce tree
bursts into flame.

Starting fire in a gully washer
is a cakewalk for you and me.
We've been burning great together
for decades,
and I do believe flames are flaring up
over the future's horizon.

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R & R Publishing

Michael Revere is a writer, rock drummer, and laborer. He was born in East Point, Georgia, July 26, 1951. He is a Viet Nam War era veteran, and now lives in Helena, Montana. Michael graduated with a Bachelors degree in History from the University of Montana, Missoula, in May 2008. Over the last 40 years he has conducted poetry readings and workshops in college and high school classrooms and at public venues throughout America. The author of several collections of poetry in print and on CD has also been published in many periodicals, newspapers, and magazines around the world. Since 1978, Michael s literary works and correspondences have been housed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Historical Society.

'We Burn Good Together' was published in War, Madness, & Love.

Chérie Newman is a former arts and humanities producer and on-air host for Montana Public Radio, and a freelance writer. She founded and previously hosted a weekly literary program, The Write Question, which continues to air on several public radio stations; it is also available online at PRX.org and MTPR.org.
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