This

The masthead, above, contains a composite of two photographs. Both of High Park, both in the same area. The left was photographed during a forest fire - actually, a controlled burn being done in High Park, Toronto, across the street from where I lived at the time. To the right is the same area, later that summer: lush and green.

Fire belongs in nature.

Something that has taken us time to learn, and we've paid a price for pushing it away.

The idea that fire belongs here runs counter to our instincts. We immediately put out fire when we see it. Over the years, we've gotten quite expert in doing that, with armies of firefighters and equipment dedicated to putting fire out as quickly as possible wherever it crops up.

What we've learned about our natural ecosystems, however, is that they need fire. Some species of trees, for example, require fire to break open their seeds.

Without fire, not only do some plants have difficulty reproducing, but deadwood builds up. So much deadwood that when a fire does happen it can now destroy a forest - whereas if we had left the fire alone in the first place, it would basically burn evenly, close to the ground, taking only the dry brush... But bringing new life.

Indeed, the controlled burn above was being done to assist in the black oak stands in High Park, which are struggling.

Anyway, Fire Belongs is the name I've taken for this, my poetry and fiction blog.

My work, my writing, my personality, is like fire. Frightening to some. But, I feel at least, it belongs here. For a reason.