Always Poem by John Yaws

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.