Firefighter

Don't want to remember
how Mike tried to hide from the fire
and yet it burned most of his body
sans the rings around his socks

and I learned that nineteen year old boys could die.
Just like that.

No more hanging out at the park
talking in his soft voice
about moving away
and being someone important
or listening
because that is what he did best of all.

In those hills
near the trees he loved
he clung to life and branches

and to the bleep of a life support machine
until his parents could say goodbye.