Fire Poems

"If Prometheus was worthy of the wrath of heaven for kindling the first fire upon earth, how ought all the Gods to honour the men who make it their professional business to put it out?"
John Godfrey Saxe, circa 1850
"Firemen are going to be killed right along. They know it, every man of them... firefighting is a hazardous occupation; it is dangerous on the face of it, tackling a burning building. The risks are plain.... Consequently, when a man becomes a fireman, his act of bravery has already been accomplished."
FDNY Chief Edward F. Crocker 1908

I HAVE NO AMBITION IN
THIS WORLD BUT ONE, AND
THAT IS TO BE A FIREMAN. THE POSITION MAY, IN
THE EYES OF SOME, APPEAR
TO BE A LOWLY ONE; BUT THOSE WHO KNOW THE
WORK WHICH A FIREMAN
HAS TO DO BELIEVE
HIS IS A NOBEL CALLING.
OUR PROUDEST MOMENT
IS TO SAVE... LIVES.
UNDER THE IMPULSE
OF SUCH THOUGHTS
THE NOBILITY OF THE
OCCUPATION THRILLS US
AND STIMULATES US TO
DEEDS OF DARING,
EVEN OF
SUPREME SACRIFICE.

Edward F. Crocker
Chief of Department
FDNY
1899-1911

The Firefighter's Creed

Scramble

When I'm called to duty god
wherever flames may rage
give me strength to save a life
whatever be its age

Help me to embrace a little child
before it is too late
or save an older person from
the horror of that fate

Enable me to be alert
to hear the weakest shout
and quickly and efficiently
to put the fire out

I want to fill my calling and
to give the best in me
to guard my neighbour and
protect his property

And if according to your will
I have to lose my life
bless with your protecting hand
my children and my wife.

Fireman's Wife

This is dedicated to my wife. Without her love and support
I would not be able to be a Volunteer Firefighter.

The table is set, the meal's prepared,
our guests will soon arrive.
My husband once more disappears
with a hope of keeping a child alive.
While waiting at home again alone,
our plans having gone awry.
My first impulse is merely to sit down and cry.
But soon again I realize the importance of my life
when I agreed to take on the duties of being a fireman's wife.
While there are many drawbacks,
I'll take them in my stride
The gusting winds and raging flames
may be his final fate,
But with God's help I can remain
my fireman's faithful mate.

This poem was written by Firefighter Carleen Cochran in admiration of her father Fire Chief Tom Stevens. It is certainly worth reading and it does tug at your heart. Tom is indeed very proud of his daughter and would like to share this poem with others in the firefighting profession. We should all be so fortunate.

If you would like to compliment him, Tom can be contacted at the following address:

tstevens@nvinet.com

A POEM BY FIREFIGHTER CARLEEN COCHRAN

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***************

Here is where I aquired this

More Poems

Adam's Fire Page

Adam and Pam's Abode