#responders
Mending
by Michael R. Burch
I am besieged with kindnesses;
sometimes I laugh,
delighted for a moment,
then resume
the more seemly occupation of my craft.
I do not taste the candies;
the perfume
of roses is uplifted
in a draft
that vanishes into the ceiling’s fans
that spin like old propellers
till the room
is full of ghostly bits of yarn ...
My task
is not to knit,
but not to end too soon.
This is a poem for the survivors of 9–11 whose families lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks. Keywords: 911, survivors, victims, first, responders, passengers, firemen, police, heroes, terrorist, attacks, World Trade Center, Flight 93, Pentagon, White House
Mar 25, 2020
Mar 25, 2020 at 9:51 PM UTC
Though flames may roar,
And raging fires sore.
When fear stricken heart,
We always play our part.
The bleak unsure smoke rises dense and dark,
Each moment grows longer with each little spark.
No matter the struggle we keep fighting through,
Alert and aware we know what we must do.
Blind to a hand just before
our face,
Against the clock we must quickly race.
For when it gets down to the last desperate wire,
Swift and efficient we will put out that fire.
Though the chances are we’ve never met,
When needed a savior you can always expect.
While echoed sirens may blare and ring,
We hear the muffled night cries sing.
There's no such thing as simple routine,
Ignoring monotony that lies in between.
Very real consequences we are more than aware,
From possible situations beyond any compare.
Not a second allowed for one breath of fear,
Never a moment to shed a single silent tear.
Because when you're in desperate dire need,
We will always strive our very best to succeed.
Blood flowing in Red, White and Blue,
We’re Brothers dedicated in all that we do.
In death’s darkest shadows we may dare to roam,
Yet we know that we may each not always come home.
This is our deepest heartfelt desire,
Given to us from a place so much higher.
In all that we do each risk taken for you,
Our passion runs deep we’re dedicated and true.
Some tend to forget that this is our real life,
That we also have children, friends and our wife.
We walk the thin line though it sometimes narrows,
In this world we are someone’s real life superheroes.
In case you forget dear when you leave in the morning,
I ask you darling to please head my forewarning.
When overcome with adrenalin I remind you to fight,
To come home yourself dear at the end of each night.
Aug 1, 2017
Aug 1, 2017 at 4:56 PM UTC
We come before you Almighty God,
Policeman, Fireman and EMT
to say a prayer before we go
Our ways to each his own Duty
Together now we've come to pray
In case we forget to
During our busy day
The Policeman steps forth,
“Dear God above
Keep us save
and also those we love.
We pray for your unending favor
that we never need use
the rounds we chamber
Our Vests that we wear
for our own protection
please keep 'em bullet proof
and our safety never question”
The Fireman steps up, and then takes a knee
“Dear God above I need you now
I know you're always watching me
In the Fires of our Hell
or on the highway to there
Please keep us from hurt
and not singe a single hair
Give us the strength to lift a wall
or tenderness to pick up a tiny child
give us peace when others are losing it
and peace if the scene starts getting wild”
The EMT takes his stand
“God I guess it's my turn
Not really safety out there
or the protection from a burn
But rather Lord I need your help
let me make the right decision
on every patient that I care for
Their lives in my hands I've been given”
Then all Three stand together
with their heads all bowed low
Dear God above, to all of us
please your mercy would you endow
Keep us safe and bring us home
to our wives and our children
And each time a truck roles out
let it come back safely to it's building
Dec 18, 2015
Dec 18, 2015 at 12:35 PM UTC