Admiration!

NEXT TO THE BIG FIRE TRUCK I STOOD.
MY THROAT WAS SCRATCHY, MY LEGS FELT LIKE WOOD.

I KNEW IN MY HEART SOMEDAY I'D SIT UP IN THAT CAB,
RIGHT UP THERE WITH THE FIREFIGHTERS AND MY DAD.

YUP, I'M A FIREFIGHTERS KID I AM I AM
AND SOMEDAY THEY'LL CALL ME FIREFIGHTER MAM!

I'D GOING TO GROW UP AND BE JUST LIKE MY DAD,
GROW UP AND RIDE IN THAT BIG YELLOW CAB.

I'LL GET UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, JUST LIKE DAD, TO THE TONE.
RUSH OUT THE DOOR , LET OUT A LOUD GROAN,

THEN RUSH BACK TO THE ROOM TO PUT ON CLOTHES I FORGOT,
AND OUT TO THE TRUCK, MY HEART RACING, MY STOMACH IN A KNOT.

THEN I'D STOP AND LOOK UP TO THE HOUSE AND WAVE,
TO MY KID STANDING IN THE DOORWAY TELLING ME TO BE BRAVE.

A POEM BY FIREFIGHTER CARLEEN COCHRAN