Finding Fire

“Solaris” by Blake Stolarik

A young boy. Waving.
A 9 MM. At the Humvee.
His sisters. Play tag.
In his line of fire. Imagine.
Being raised. By fire. Imagine
Pouring. Gasoline.
On the flames. Each ember.
Whispers. To you.
I have. Wept. On a cot.
Passed down.
From soldier. To soldier.
Word has it. A female soldier.
Had a baby. On this cot. If you look.
Inside. You can see it. They say.
The proof. The evidence.
The ashes.
One day.
I’ll look. And find fire.
Hiding roadside. Under trash.
One day. I’ll open.
The hatch of a tank.
And find. A child. Inside.
Or one day. That Afghan boy.
9 MM. In his innocent. Palms.
Might burn. His eyes.
Into you. Then. Wave.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Evan J. Massey is an African American, US Army veteran who served his country in Afghanistan. His work can be found or forthcoming in Hunger Mountain, Bat City Review, The Pinch, Indiana Review, Gulf Coast, and various others. He holds an MFA from Virginia Tech and teaches Upper School English at The Rivers School. He can be found at evanjmassey.com.

about the artist

Blake Noelle Stolarik is a college student; photographer; published children's lit illustrator; poet; and writer for Fungi Foundation. Her ardor for details and diversity drives her photographic work. Find more of her work at blakenoelle.com or @quiddities_ on Instagram.