Letter: The Caldor Fire through a 14-year-old's eyes

Unbeknownst to grandpa Bill Mitchell, his grandson Angelo is studying poetry in 9th grade English. He was asked to write a poem about something important, and he chose the Caldor Fire. Angelo has visited the Lake Tahoe area for Christmas and Spring Break for the past 11 years and plans on attending Lake Tahoe Community College.

South Lake Tahoe Caldor Fire

The fires melt my heart as much as it burns

I see blue, I see green in that nice scene
Anyone who leaves always returns
So many small bugs I think there’s fifteen
The fish that I see looks so carefree
Moth on the trees burns into the forest creek
No longer hiding in the big Birch tree
Forever stuck because it is so weak
A lonely bear in the midst of a large field
Not sure of what he sees is even real
No longer standing with his big iron shield
Feeling strong he has nothing to conceal
The lakes still moving with ducks on the water
They keep swimming cause nothing else matters.

Angelo Mitchell