Fire Command

By Arthur W. Heredia

As I lie here warm and dreaming, my sleep interrupted
by a siren screaming, Fire Call! Fire Call!
The operator’s voice is speaking, on go the socks,
pants, and shirt without even thinking

We pull up in front of a house that’s ablaze,
survivors are standing there half in a daze
I call to my men to drop the equipment they need,
an aggressive attack is what’s called for indeed

Hitting the ceiling with a blast of fine spray,
the book says to dissipate gasses that way
You can’t see two feet in front of your mask,
Dear Lord why must we have the impossible task

Making a retreat that’s been professionally tested,
all I can think of is getting my men rested
Standing on the sidewalk reminiscent of Nero,
a woman is calling all of my men heroes

The baby is safe in the arms of its mother,
tonight it was this way, tomorrow another
Looking around and seeing everyone’s frozen,
this is the answer why we are God’s chosen.

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