YARNELL HILL
Amanda McBroom/Michele Brourman
THE CALL CAME IN AT TWO. THE SKY WAS DESERT DARK.
A STORM UP ON THE MOUNTAIN
HAD THROWN A WAYWARD SPARK.
I HEARD YOU SOFTLY CURSING. I FELT YOU LEAVE THE BED.
YOU KISSED ME ON THE SHOULDER.
”GO BACK TO SLEEP” YOU SAID.
I MADE YOU INSTANT COFFEE.
YOU GRABBED A PIECE OF PIE.
YOU SAID, “YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, BABE.”
YOU NEVER SAID GOODBYE.
I DROVE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL LIKE ANY OTHER DAY.
THE NEWS WAS BAD IN PRESCOTT, FORTY MILES AWAY.
THEN BECCA CALLED TO TELL ME
ALL THAT SHE HAD LEARNED.
YARNELL WAS GOING UP IN FLAMES.
A HUNDRED HOUSES BURNED.
THE GHOSTS OF DYING CEDARS BLOODIED UP THE SKY.
I WHISPERED, “PLEASE BE CAREFUL.”
I NEVER SAID GOODBYE.
SO YOU WENT WITH YOUR MEN TO THE MOUNTAIN
WITH YOUR AXE AND YOUR 80 POUND PACK
ADRENALIN FLOWED LIKE A FOUNTAIN
AND NONE OF YOU EVER LOOKED BACK.
NOW I WATCH THE ENDLESS NEWS
ON THE TELEVISION SCREEN
THEY’RE COUNTING UP THE BODIES
. NOW THEY SAY NINETEEN.
I’M STARING AT THE FACES OF THE SURVIVING CREW
ALL OF THEM ARE HEROES. BUT NONE OF THEM ARE YOU.
SOMEDAY I’LL START BREATHING. SOMEDAY I WILL CRY.
MY MIND WILL STOP REPEATING,
“WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE.”
MAYBE IT’S ALL JUST A DREAM.
MAYBE IT’S A LIE.
MAYBE YOU’LL COME BACK TO ME
SOMEDAY YOU’LL COME BACK TO ME.
BABY, PLEASE COME BACK TO ME.
CAUSE WE NEVER SAID GOODBYE.
