Slightly To One Side

Watching
it approach
from a distance
and slightly to one side.

Fire-wind ahead of it;
my hair
just won’t sit still
and clumps at last
slightly to one side.

Whatever is imminent
is not going to happen
face to face.  
No eye contact between us;
all skewed instead 
slightly to one side —

I know the probability is high 
that I won’t have seen it coming
when it finally does arrive,
will likely miss
the actual moment
during a glance 
slightly to one side
of where I think 
it will arrive
which is too bad

as I’m truly curious and not afraid,

so I turn my head 
slightly to one side,
out of the blowing ash,

and say,
welcome.