by W. H Duryea & E.E. COLI

Dedicated to the victims of the Oakland warehouse fire, emergency responders, and Wallace Stevens.

101.2. Scope.

This code
establishes
regulations
affecting
or relating to
structures,
processes,
premises
and safeguards
regarding:

I.

A fag,
embers blooming,
pinched between
delicate digits,
expiring
incrementally
with each
puff.

1.

The hazard of
fire
and
explosion
arising from the
storage, handling
or use of
structures,
materials
or devices;

II.

The stray fag,
discarded,
smolders
by the wall,
unseen
and
alone,
fuming,

2.

Conditions hazardous
to
life, property
or
public welfare
in the occupancy of
structures
or
premises;

III.

and then aflame,
flickering from
memento to memento,
igniting
old junk and
treasured relics,
exhaling smoke,
climbing the walls.

3.

Fire hazards
in the structure
or
on the premises
from occupancy
or
operation;

IV.

No option but
to burn out,
suffocated,
in this corner,
or to make
the fiery leap
to the dance floor
where there are
all these bodies
to consume,
unprotected.

4.

Matters
related to the
construction,
extension,
repair,
alteration
or
removal
of fire suppression
or
alarm
systems;
and

V.

Now come the tongues,
lapping, enveloping
strangers, and
the descent,
down the
makeshift
staircase,
in search
of oxygen,
the warm pallet
disintegrating
to grey;
and

5.

Conditions
affecting
the safety of
fire fighters
and
emergency responders
during
emergency operations.

VI.

the cry for help,
unheard;
light and sound,
strobing;
one last
drop
before
the darkness;
the whole
edifice
collapses.