Summers of Fire
Dedicated to the fire crews of ‘76 ‘77 ‘78
with sunrise
cold, heavy air descends
steep Florida Canyon slopes
cascading around and through
mammoth Douglas-fir, ponderosa pine,
Arizona walnut
then over oaks, mesquite, juniper
and an historic work station
built years ago
by Depression-era young men
yearning for a better life
Florida Ranger Station
Forest Service firefighters
train long and hard
for summers of fire
build fire lines
bust knuckles
swing Pulaskis
haul packs and gear
chase spot fires
work to exhaustion
tongues like shoe leather
back and shoulders taut as
a charged fire hose
perseverance and grit prevail
over burnt landscapes
after a shower and supper
guys and gals meet at a cabin
for cards, music, laughter,
good ribbings, and beer
and perhaps, companionship too
if these walls could talk
what intimacies
what secrets of the heart
what hurt, pride, and loss
would reveal
a fire crew’s
summers of fire
Author: Stephen N Chaffee
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