FIREFIGHTER POEMS

I wish you could see.

I wish you could see the sadness of a business man as his
livelihood goes up in flames, or that family returning home, 
only to find their house and belongings damaged or lost for good.

I wish you could know what it is like to search a burning bedroom for
trapped children, flames rolling above your head, your palms and
knees burning as you crawl, the floor sagging under your weight as the
kitchen below you burns.

I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 3a.m. as I check her
husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping
to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting
his wife and family to know everything possible was done to try to save
his life.

I wish you knew the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste
of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your turnout
gear, the sound of flames crackling, the eeriness of being able to see
absolutely nothing in dense smoke-sensations that I've become too
familiar with.

I wish you could understand how it feels to go to work in the
morning after having spent most of the night, hot and soaking wet at a
multiple alarm fire.

I wish you could read my mind as I respond to a building fire "Is
this a false alarm or a working fire? How is the building constructed?
what hazards await me? Is anyone trapped?" Or to an EMS call, "What is
wrong with the patient? Is it minor or life-threatening? Is the caller
really in distress or is he waiting for us with a 2x4 or a gun?"

I wish you could be in the emergency room as a doctor pronounces
dead the beautiful five-year old girl that I have been trying to save during
the past 25 minutes. Who will never go on her first date or say the
words, "I love you Mommy" again.

I wish you could know the frustration I feel in the cab of the
engine or my personal vehicle, the driver with his foot pressing down hard on
the pedal, my arm tugging again and again at the air horn chain, as you
fail to yield the right-of-way at an intersection or in traffic. When
you need us however, your first comment upon our arrival will be,

 "It took you forever to get here!"

I wish you could know my thoughts as I help extricate a girl of
teenage years from the remains of her automobile. "What if this was my
sister, my girlfriend or a friend? What were her parents reaction going to be
when they opened the door to find a police officer with hat in hand?"

I wish you could know how it feels to walk in the back door and
greet my parents and family, not having the heart to tell them that I nearly
did not come back from the last call.

I wish you could feel the hurt as people verbally, and sometimes
physically, abuse us or belittle what I do, or as they express
their attitudes of "It will never happen to me"

I wish you could realize the physical, emotional and mental drain
or missed meals, lost sleep and forgone social activities, in addition
to all the tragedy my eyes have seen.

I wish you could know the brotherhood and self-satisfaction of
helping save a life or of preserving someone's property, or being able to
be there in time of crisis, or creating order from total chaos.

I wish you could understand what it feels like to have a little boy
tugging at your arm and asking, "Is Mommy okay?" Not even being
able to look in his eyes without tears from your own and not knowing what
to say. Or to have to hold back a long time friend who watches his buddy
having rescue breathing done on him as they take him away in the
ambulance. You know all along he did not have his seat belt on.

A sensation that I have become too familiar with.

Unless you have lived with this kind of life, you will never truly
understand or appreciate who I am, we are, or what our job really
means to us...I wish you could though.

(Author Unknown)

The Last Alarm

My father was a fireman,he drove a big red truck
And when he'd go to work each day he'd say "Mother, wish me luck"
Then dad would not come home again until sometime the next day
But the thing that bothered me the most was the things some folks would say
A fireman's life is easy, he eats and sleeps and plays,
and sometimes he won't fight a fire for many, many days
When I first heard these words I was young to understand
But I knew when people had trouble Dad was there to lend a hand

Then my father went to work one day and kissed us all goodbye
but little did we realize that night we all would cry
My father lost his life that night when the floor gave way below
And I wondered why he'd risked his life for somone he did not know
But now I truly realize the greatest gift a man can give
is to lay his life upon the line so that someone else might live
so as we go from day to day and pray to God above
Say a prayer for your local fireman
He may save the ones you love

I WANT TO TELL YOU LIES

I want to tell that little boy his Mom will be just fine
I want to tell that dad we got his daughter out in time
I want to tell that wife her husband will be home tonight
I don't want to tell it like it is, I want to tell them lies.

You didn't put their seat belts on, you feel you killed your kids
I want to say you didn't ... but in a way, you did.
You pound your fists into my chest, you're hurting so inside
I want to say you'll be OK, I want to tell you lies.

You left chemicals within his reach and now it's in his eyes
I want to say your son will see, not tell you he'll be blind.
You ask me if he'll be OK, with pleading in your eyes
I want to say that yes he will, I want to tell you lies.

I can see you're crying as your life goes up in smoke.
If you'd maintained that smoke alarm, your children may have woke.
Don't grab my arm and ask me if your family is alive.
Don't make me tell you they're all dead, I want to tell you lies.

I want to say she'll be OK, you didn't take her life
I hear you say you love her and you'd never hurt your wife.
You thought you didn't drink too much, you thought that you could drive.
I don't want to say how wrong you were, I want to tell you lies.

You only left her for a moment, it happens all the time.
How could she have fallen from there? You thought she couldn't climb.
I want to say her neck's not broken, that she will be just fine.
I don't want to say she's paralyzed, I want to tell you lies.

I want to tell this teen his buddies didn't die in vain
Because he thought that it'd be cool to try to beat that train
I don't want to tell him this will haunt him all his life
I want to say that he'll forget, I want to tell him lies.

You left the cabinet open and your daughter found the gun.
Now you want me to undo the damage that's been done.
You tell me she's your only child, you say she's only five.
I don't want to say she won't see six, I want to tell you lies.

He fell into the pool when you just went to grab the phone.
It was only for a second that you left him there alone.
If you let the damn phone ring perhaps your boy would be alive.
But I don't want to tell you that, I want to tell you lies.

The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn
And we couldn't get them out of there before the whole thing burned.
Did they suffer? Yes, they suffered, as they slowly burned alive.
But I don't want to say those words, I want to tell you lies.

But I have to tell it like it is, until my shift is through
And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you.
You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine
I hope you understand, sometimes, I have to tell you lies.

Dedicated to all the Police Officers, Firefighters, EMT's, Paramedics, Emergency Flight Crews and all civil servants. Who deal with the tragedies of life and death. The saddest of all, being those that involve children, and could have been prevented.

Wear your seat belts. Keep poisons, flammables, fireworks, etc., out of reach of children. Keep your smoke alarm in operating order, if you don't have one, get one. Never, ever drive if you've been drinking. Never leave your toddler unattended. Teens, be responsible drivers, obey all traffic lights, posted limits, warnings and signals at RR crossings. Keep your guns locked and out of reach, buy a trigger guard. Protect our children, they are our future... Am I preaching? Am I nagging? I guess I am just telling it like it is... Or I could just tell you a lie.
(Author Unknown)

Death of an innocent

I went to a party mom, I remembered what you said,
You told me not to drink mom, so I drank soda instead
I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would
I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should
I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right
Now the party is finally ending, Mom, as everyone is driving out of sight
As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece
Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet
I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road,
The other car didn't see me, Mom, it hit me like a load
As I lay here on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say
The other guy is drunk, Mom, now I am the one who will pay
I am lying here dying, Mom....I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon

There is blood all around me, Mom, and most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a short time.
I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think
He was probably at the same party as I
The only difference is, he drank and I will die
Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains, now. Pains just like a knife.
The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, and I don't think it's fair
I'm lying here dying, and all he can do is stare.
Tell my brother not to cry, Mom, tell daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom, put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave
Someone should have told him, Mom, not to drink and drive
If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive.
My breath is getting shorter, Mom, I am becoming very scared.
Please dont cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there.
I have one last question, Mom, before I say goodbye:
I didn't drink and drive, so why am I the one to die?

Many mothers, fathers, and children die every year from drunk driving. We ask everyone, PLEASE do not drink and drive.

The Firefighter's Prayer

When I am called to duty, God,
wherever flames may rage;
Give me the strength to save some life
whatever be it's age.
Help me embrace a little child
before it is too late;
Or save an older person from
the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert
and hear the weakest shout
And quickly and efficiently,
to put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and
To give the best in me
To guard my every neighbor
and protect their property
And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
Please bless with your protecting hand
My children and my wife