That Firewoman
written by: Michelle Ayon Navajas
i wish i could be, that firewoman i saw, saving lives she doesn’t know;
she wears a passe uniform,
instead of high heels and fancy clothes;
whose foundation and blush-on are black powdery residue;
whose perfume smells of a burnt dried substance,
instead of a dreamy Channel scent or fruity Tom Ford aroma.
but, i’m not; so here i am in the comfort of my home;
trying my sexy sleek shoes and my little black backless dress;
putting my pore less makeup on,
as i spritz, then walk into my favorite scent of the day.
i wish i could be, that firewoman i saw, leaving home every day
(most often she is never home)
heaven knows how many Christmases she missed,
new years she welcomed alone,
birthdays she celebrated breaking walls,
to prevent and suppress fires; so lives would be salvaged,
properties would be preserved; putting her life even in danger.
but, i’m not; so here i am in the comfort of my home;
complaining at the severity of the summer heat,
wondering how to get by or get even with the people who hurt me,
(this may not be necessary)
giving orders to my help, even for a glass of water to drink.
i wish i could be, that firewoman i saw, carrying a crying baby out of the rubble after an earthquake,
giving first aid to an injured man after an accident,
raging storms to rescue a family stranded after a typhoon,
ensuring every civilian gets to live for another day or more.
but, i’m not; so here i am in the comfort of my home;
watching the news over a cup of fresh hot brewed coffee,
waiting ’till the disaster is over, most often complaining, just complaining, and whining.
i wish i could be, that firewoman i saw, walking with pride and confidence;
she trains not to get things right,
but trains ’till she can’t get it wrong;
she knows how and she knows why,
she is trustworthy, a team player, collaborative, works under pressure, and is selfless;
a firefighter, ’till she dies.
but, i’m not; so here i am in the comfort of my home;
doing what i love doing the most,
getting creative with my imagination;
without the need to put my life at risk,
a poet i am ’till i die.
i wish i could be, that firewoman
i saw, but i am not;
so here i am writing a poetic tribute
to her heroic deeds;
she saves lives; lives she never knew
she preserves properties; properties she may not even own too,
a firewoman she is,
my secret little hero.
every fire that she puts out, there’s a breath of life she rescues;
including that little girl in the emergency room right now,
that old man sitting across the street on a ventilator,
that stranger freed from being trapped in a burning building,
even that cute furry cat (yes, a cat) in her lovely “meow” gentle cry.
“i wish i could be as brave as she is, but i’m not.”
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
In the photo is Filipina woman joining and making a difference during a five-month Fire Basic Recruit Course in the Philippines.
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