~Always~`

Always I sit here at your bedside, Watch the moonlight on your face, The paths carved in your makeup- Where the teardrops left their trace… I want so much to hold you, And to tell you how I feel- Inform you of my presence- But, alas, it is unreal. We really should have married- Our love was plain to see. So readily apparent- To every one but me… I'd laugh each time you told me- Of your love, I'd make a joke. Unable to confide in you- It's all gone up in smoke. I was flying out of Boise- Fighting fires in Idaho… And I took too many chances, Everybody told me so. You pleaded with me to slow down, Not take the foolish risks- I'd smile and make some light remark- Then hush you with a kiss. A year ago last Tuesday- A major forest fire… The winds blew hard and fitful, The flames kept raging higher. Al and I were trying hard- And falling way behind, When a bunch of jumper's were cut off- Behind a flaming line. "Big Al" took in the first drop- And I built on his lead- The wind was blowing harder- And gusting in the trees. We had to make our drops too low- My engine was aflame- The fire got to my fuel tank- I went calling out your name. But I'll never really leave you- I sit with you each night. When you weep upon my photograph… And you die a bit inside. I told you, all too often- In those other, better days… You are my girl, you'll always be- I'll be with you always. Written December 29th, 2001 © on Dec 28 2001 03:12 PM PST, John R. Yaws   0 • 10