Fire Fighter

A spark can start anywhere

   the kitchen

      or bathroom

         or on the patio steps

A simple spark

   ignited by whim

     choice

       or simply tired eyes

The spark

quickly engulfs the walls

wrangles on the carpet

I hear the crinkling of flames

echo in the vents

I breathe in

Knowing I will burn my hands

  but must find a way

    to extinguish the fire

       before it blackens the woodwork

       before we cannot scrub

the smoke stains from our fingernails

My hands become hot

holding this spark

  this fire

the heat runs deeper than my skin

The smoke calls forth tears

but then

     the oxygen is pulled from the room

     from the spark in my hand

and little arms wrap around my neck

a little head snuggles into my shoulder

we walk out of the house

Fire fighter and daughter