A Firefighters Gloves

by Pat Browne

A Firefighters Gloves hold many things

From elderly arms to a kids broken swing

From the hands they hsake and the back they pat

To the tiny claw marks of another treed cat

At 2 am they are filled with the chrome

From the DWI who was on her way home

And the equipment they use to roll back the dash

From a family of six she involved in the crash

The brush rakes in spring, wear the palms out

When the wind does a "90" to fill them with doubt

The thumb of the glove wipes the sweat from the brow

Of the face of a firefighter who mutters "What now"

They hold inch and a halves flowing one twenty five

So the ones going in, come back out alive

When the regulator goes; then there isn't too much,

by the bypass valve they eagerly clutch

The rescue equipment, the ropes, the C-collars,

The lives that they save never measured in dollars

Are the obvious things firefighters goves hold,

Or so that I've always been told.

But there are other things Firefighters Gloves touch

Those are the things we all need so much

They hold back the rage on that 3 am call

They hold in the fear when your lost in a hall

They hold back the pity, agony, sorrow

They hold back the desire to "Do it tomorrow"

A glove's just a glove till it's a firefighters

Who work all day long just to pull an all-nighter

And into the fray they charge without fear

At the sound of a "Help" they think that they hear

When firefighters hands go into the glove

It's a firefighter who always fills it with love

Sometimes the sorrow is too much to bear

And it seeps the glove and burns deep "in there"

Off comes the gloves when the call is done

And into the pocket until the next run

The ahnds become lonely and cold for a bit

And shake just a little thinking of it

And they sit there so red eyed with their gloves in their coats

The tears come so fast the furniture floats

They're not so brave now; their hands they can't hide

I guess it just means that they're human inside

And though some are paid and others are not

The gloves feel the same when it's cold or hot

To someone you're helping to just get along

When you fill them with love, you always feel strong

And so when I go on my final big ride

I hope to have my gloves by my side

To show St. Peter at that heavenly gate

Cause as everyone knows; firefighters don't wait

The Fireman's Prayer

When I am called to duty,

God wherever flames may rage

give me 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 effectively

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 his property

and if according to your will

I have to lose my life,

please bless with your protecting

hand my children and my wife.

Another Day

Another day, another call

Firemen hurried one and all.

They geared up and moved out, no time to spare.

As sirens pierced through the September air.

It was a dury, a calling, their passion, their way.

To save the public from their darkest days.

Out of habit they worked without fear, without fret,

Now these heroes are ones we'll never forget.

I wonder if they relected on the hope their lives gave,

On this day when it was only God who could save.

To the soul mates I hug you and join yo in your tears

On this day when reality has overcome your fears.

But know he'll be with you in spirit, in love,

He'll be watching and guiding from high above.

To the children, though this grief may now seem too great,

Know that your daddy has a heroes fate,

And know he'll still be there in every possible way,

Let his memory bring you joy each and every day.

To the parents be proud that this man was your son,

Look back on his life, and cherish what he's done.

Think of all the lives he has touched,

Take comfort in the fact that he loves you so much.

To the siblings, grand parents, grandchildren, friends,

To aunts, uncles, and cousins that he loved to the end,

Know that his life was not taken in vain.

Let pride in all he's done take the place of your pain.

To his "brothers and sisters" who shared in that calling

Don't feel guilt or regret as your tears are falling

But feel honor and appreciation for all that you do

Stand strong, stand together, let that strength help you though.

To God with who these men have no gone

Know that recollections of these lives on Earth will live on,

Please bring peace to hearts that are suffering today

As they wonder how to go on, please show them the way.

And the many fallen angels whose lives have been lost,

Know that we recognize your work and its cost.

Thank you for all who you've helped and you've saved,

For the time and the love, and the life that you gave.