Burning Grass

what are you doing? you better not catch my house on fire!

it's all smoky, here.

Today our apartment smells of burning. I checked the kitchen, the iron upstairs, but the smoke is not coming from one of my forgetful deeds. The smell is coming from outside where men are burning grass. I've never seen this done in the states. It must be illegal due to fire danger and pollution. They aren't just burning grass outside my back window, they are burning sod everywhere. Yesterday I looked out the 4th floor window of the university and all I saw was black. It's as if someone colored the entire landscape with a big black crayon. I suppose the grass is burned to naturally compost and fertilize the grass for the spring.

If anyone has a better explanation for me on why they burn the grass, let me know!