(c) Kalvere. All rights reserved.
With his helmet in his hand and tears
in his eyes,
where once tall towers stood,
And spoke to his fallen brother...
I never wanted to be here
But I don't want to leave.
I feel that I am breaking my most
sacred vow to you:
"We don't desert our dead."
"We don't leave our brothers
behind."
I tried so hard to find you...
Although the essence of you is
everywhere,
I've found nothing I can hold.
I don't want to leave without you.
You've come a long way from being the
guy
Who cracks those corny jokes in the
Firehouse kitchen.
Do you know you died a national hero?
Do you understand why I have to leave
you here?
Will you ever forgive me...
Will I ever forgive myself?
You are my brother.
We are bound.
How can I leave you?
The gentlest of breezes
Stirred the fine ash at his feet
As his tears fell to the ground...
The breeze carried a voice to him,
If he allowed himself to listen:
My brother,
You are not leaving me
For I am going with you,
Just as I was with you every moment
While you searched this ground.
I am not a hero
because of the way that I died that
day.
I was a hero because of the way I
lived
all the days before that.
Perhaps I am called "hero"
By those whose lives I helped to
save...
But more than that...
I was a hero to my son
When I taught him to ride a bike
And pitch a ball...
I was a hero to my daughter
When I helped her with her homework
over the phone
while working a 24 hour shift,
and dried her tears when her puppy
love crush
did not return her feelings...
I was a hero to my wife
when I brought her flowers for no
reason
just to see her smile,
and when I took the kids for ice
cream
so she could have some time alone.
I was a hero to my parents
just because I was their son.
Those are the things that really
matter.
They are the essence of me.
And you ... you are my hero.
You have done more for me
Than any brother has ever had to do.
You were there for me.
I felt your fear,
I saw your tears,
I heard every prayer.
Your duty here is done.
This is all I ask of you now:
Hug your children, kiss your wife,
Smile when you think of me ... and
live your life.
The tears you cried here will water
the seeds of the future.
Go, my brother,
with Peace in your heart.
I'm saving you a place at the table,
But I won't expect you for a very
long time.
It's OK for you to leave this ground.
You are not leaving me behind,
For you will carry me with you,
Always,
Within your heart.
And that is more than enough.
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(c) 1998 Copyrighted to Kalvere. Please do not reproduce without
author's permission. Kalvere, the author, is a Minnesota firefighter and would
welcome any comments at the following email address: [email protected]