-The Fire Engine Kid- (His Own Red Sea)
by Bryan MilesThe reddest of hair
The fire engine kid
He always did
What his daddy did
Kicking a ball
Washing the car
His shadow behind
But not very far
Not far behind his father
And following his steps
The father loves his son
And that's why he preps
He preps him for manhood
Preparing the way
A lifetime of lessons
A short time to play
Many years later
Though it seemed very fast
His days in the sandbox
Belonged to the past
Still following his dad
But his other Dad too
The image of both fathers
Came shining through
The trials of life
He kicked like a ball
Nothing was going
To make him fall
Washing his car
And cleansing his soul
The washing of the word
Put him in control
One very dark day
He discovered a cyst
A very hard lump
As tight as a fist
Lodged in his throat
Like a piece of steak
The trials of life
Never give a break
Touching even the chosen
With their fingers of choice
Attempting to kill
Or drown the voice
Of anyone who speaks
Of the Father's love
The father on earth
And the Father above
In his own Red Sea
The currents were strong
Pulling him under
To steal his song
Swift moving waters
That swirl and twist
Tugging and grabbing
Hand over fist
Pulling him under
Hand over hand
Swarming around
The waters demand
Demand his submission
To sink in the sea
With the likes of Pharaoh
And his drowned Calvary
The fire engine kid
Now a man
Wondered how this
Fit in to God's plan
The reddest of hair
Began to fall out
In fuzzy red strands
Though he had no doubt
That the God of his father
Whom he followed behind
Was still right beside him
Loving and kind
Not far from his Father
And following His steps
The Father loves his son
And that's why He preps
He preps him for manhood
Preparing the way
A lifetime of lessons
A short time to play
What never should happen
Happened so fast
The fire engine kid
The one from the past
Died in his father's arms
And then traveled above
To his Father in heaven
And His fullness of love
His own Red Sea
Never stole his song
Though the waters were swift
And the currents were strong
The fire engine kid
With the reddest of hair
Believed in His father
Up above and down there
He followed in His footsteps
Singing songs of the free
He departed from pain
When God parted his Red Sea...
This poem was a finalist in the
April 2010 poetry contest
