While the crew rests - you sit on a rock - watch the fire - grow - you wonder - how you and your pals will put it out - at least get her under control - fires are unpredictable - that doesn't mean there's no pattern - tragic things happen - all over the world - right now - somewhere else - yesterday - tomorrow - next year - a hundred years ago - that's a lot to consider - the glow from houses in the valley blends with the night sky light - it's so dark - you can't see twenty yards forward or back but you see the fire - smell it - feel it - the glow from the valley reminds you why you are here tonight - Harvey wakes up - walks to the drop zone - gets a sweater out of his backpack - takes a piss - asks - what you see out there boss - a fire that's too active for this time of night - you say - I noticed that too - Harvey says - walks back to his sleeping bag - gets in - your ex wife hates that you love to jump out of airplanes and fight fires in the Rocky Mountains - she moved to Chicago - you were in New Mexico - you miss her sometimes - not now - the fire has your undivided attention - if you knew that you would be dead tomorrow - would you pull your crew off the mountain - watch the Rockies in a bar - or would you push on - side-stepping premonition?
No comments:
Post a Comment