POEM: First Responders, Timing Critical by Walter Prokopchuk of Bradford

BradfordToday welcomes letters to the editor at (email protected) or through the website. Please include your full name, daytime phone number and address (for authorship verification, not for publication). The following poem was submitted by Walter Prokopchuk.

First responses, critical time

The request – we are aware – seems everywhere we turn,
Through food banks, other charities and elsewhere – I have discernment;
Some volunteer, we will donate, for their worthy cause,
From whom we will enjoy self-esteem and self-praising applause;

Otherwise, involuntary: taxation, household bills,
We offset those burdens, through our persistent wills;
And realizing Freedoms here – in Canada: The best land
To which — from the countries of our globe — we stand guard together.

However, we must be most alert to the dangers within
Our borders with our citizens and few immigrate to:
Some of our own radicals, spies in autocracies,
That would try to destabilize our blessed Democracy.

And who would be our guardians, keep us from danger
Also about crime, corruption, disasters, could there be a lone ranger?
Yes! Firefighters, paramedics and police are brave
Our streets, together with journalists – for the daily news they crave.

We must also protect them, whose jobs, Protect us all in turn:
Crime police, firefighters on time, to save us from burns;
And the paramedics in all the scenes – fender-benders and between,
The journalists who put the truth in order, for the daily news we have yet to see.

For those respondents all arrive, primarily in their careers
To take care of us during our conflicts, hurts and fears,
And know – that they have families and children just like us,
Yet they come happiest, to Serve, untroubled,

Because they are a team, as in all sports, watched from the stands of the arenas
Dedicated to winning for us, as if we were paying fans;
We watch our journalists and their coordinated pieces,
Because they are the players of the team where, as supporters, we gladly pay.

So next time, instead of spending your resources on some useless things,
Contemplate, maybe donate, a little—just enough
With praise – or token gift – for them, because they are worthy
Your choice—by deed or voice: they keep us safe and free!

Walter Prokopchuk
Bradford