Images of smoke and the haunting sound of siren screams
were the memory companions that filled all his nightly dreams
and they became his lifeblood as well as passion's fire
to faithfully yield to the duty they so overwhelmingly did inspire.
And even though the price of time and consequences of age
denied his body it's greatest love of life as wage
it never quenched his fire fighter's soul of its wondrous and noble rage
nor that intense need burning so deep in his heart
to save each life and shelter from being another victory for a fire's page.
Over and over again
just as he had done all his serving days
his lips would still defiantly and valiantly speak
of how he had fought so hard that enemy flame
with every ounce of strength his body could aim.
Now he lives on
having answered that resounding heavenly bell
appearing at last in the Lord's eternal firehouse where firemen dwell,
standing as he had done in this life so proud and tall
joyously and willingly responding when he finally heard
the fire fighter's last call.
A memorial tribute to my step dad,
Arnold Eppler, who passed away March 31, 2005.
