Spirituality Guide

I wrote this some time ago but I think it applies now…

The smoke-smell was quite strong that day, inhaled deep into breast
The sun was high, the wind was mild, coming from the west.
Crackles came as fire bit in, the next ridge burning bright
It seared the slope across the gulch, all since morning light

Red tongue of flame had reached this side, of gully-bottom’s creek
We’d stop it here or run like hell, as safety we would seek
Heat haze above and viscous smoke, made it hard to see
Wet sacking, shovel, pack on back, fire heroes we would be

It started in the neighbour state, we tried to raise alarm
But National Park authorities, couldn’t see the harm
From 50 hectares at that time, its’ size so quickly grew
It crossed the border 5 miles wide; we’d need a bigger crew

Land round Bendoc’s high and steep, more vertical than flat
Our huge and heavy dozers, couldn’t cope with that
The call went out, resources flowed, firefighters came apace
We set up two more base camps, we really needed space

There’s choppers four, six fixed wings too, nine dozers had come in
When trying to pass the jobs around, we all raised quite a din
And now we stood, the thinnest line, a frail and human wall
We’d stem the tide and save our towns, just fire could make us fall

We knew that when the flames did leap, across the tiny stream
They’d race upslope, our flesh to burn, our tears to turn to steam
We had no choice of where we stood, conflagration chose
Smoked tears we wept, coughing loud, and dribbled from the nose

When first we met our fiery foe, the tiny little burn
Had grown in size a thousand times, and then began to turn
Out of place and miles away, we’d had to rush right in
No choice of where to fight the beast, we took it on the chin

For days we sweat against the roar, the showers of sparks so bright
It stayed so dark from smoke and ash, we knew not day or night
When flame rose high and threatened all, there was no time for fear
Just wet that sack and swing it round, Death is truly near

The flames went by, we ran for life, and got back to the front
Old George was just magnificent; his team now took the brunt
And slowly as reports came in, we saw the tide had turned
We started getting rest breaks then, but not what we had earned

For two long weeks the fire had raged, had torn our lives apart
But folks were safe, though we were spent, from that we all took heart
A mighty celebration raged, pissed workers all around
Then hungover and bleary-eyed, we made our way to town.