THE FIREMEN
There is little satisfaction
In todays work.
We watch sidelined,
As the flames engulf
And finish what they started.
What was a home
Is now nothing,
But ashes and embers
Charred remnants
Of what was
And is no longer.
Gone completely
A lifetime of
Precious memories.
Including walls,
Lovingly maintained
That had become
A shrineof remembrance
For an only son
Lost in Vietnam.
Pictures of daughters,
Grandchildren,
Long grown
And scattered,
Some to be found
And some lost forever.
Precious images
Of generations long gone,
Books and drawers
Filled with past memories
Irreplaceable irretrievable,
All gone.
Vanished also
The happiness of today,
Destroyed within the flames
Of this hungry phantom fire.
For now the hopelessness
Of the Now dims future dreams.
We know the material items,
Including the house
Will be replaced.
From experience we know
That the pain
Of this devastating loss
Will diminish
But will never be forgotten.
We can but watch
In silence and awe,
At the power of the flame
Casting its color
Like a brilliant sunset
Against the skies.
It portrays
A certain majesty.
We made a mistake,
There is satisfaction
In todays work.
We watch sidelined,
As the flames engulf
And finish what they started,
But... no human life was lost.
There is little satisfaction
In todays work.
We watch sidelined,
As the flames engulf
And finish what they started.
What was a home
Is now nothing,
But ashes and embers
Charred remnants
Of what was
And is no longer.
Gone completely
A lifetime of
Precious memories.
Including walls,
Lovingly maintained
That had become
A shrineof remembrance
For an only son
Lost in Vietnam.
Pictures of daughters,
Grandchildren,
Long grown
And scattered,
Some to be found
And some lost forever.
Precious images
Of generations long gone,
Books and drawers
Filled with past memories
Irreplaceable irretrievable,
All gone.
Vanished also
The happiness of today,
Destroyed within the flames
Of this hungry phantom fire.
For now the hopelessness
Of the Now dims future dreams.
We know the material items,
Including the house
Will be replaced.
From experience we know
That the pain
Of this devastating loss
Will diminish
But will never be forgotten.
We can but watch
In silence and awe,
At the power of the flame
Casting its color
Like a brilliant sunset
Against the skies.
It portrays
A certain majesty.
We made a mistake,
There is satisfaction
In todays work.
We watch sidelined,
As the flames engulf
And finish what they started,
But... no human life was lost.
The Poets Garret
WildCity Writers' Workshop
Poetry Challenges
Selected Poetry
