Thanking a Hero

How can I thank you for saving our lives?
Because of you my whole family survives

My pups and I were surrounded by smoke
As you rushed through the door, we heard you choke

The flames you doused after pulling us out
My gratitude I offer, snout to snout

I see you have burn marks behind your cheek
I, too, have scars on my black coat once sleek

And as I gaze into your bright blue eyes
I’ve seen you before, I now realize

We’d been in front of the World Trade Center
My owner and I watched as you entered

A hero in every sense of the word
Your safety for others always deferred

And to think you’d risk your life once again
When fire victims were not even human




*For Joyce Johnson’s “Doggy Gratitude” contest
Copyright © | Year Posted 2011

Poem

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Davis Avatar
May 11, 2014 at 12:52 PM
Carolyn What a wonderfully, sweet and kind tribute to these heroes who risk their lives so unselfishly. Thank you for the nice comment on my Cowboys poem.
Brown Avatar
February 23, 2011 at 4:28 AM
Congratulations on your well deserved 1st place win in Joyce's contest Carolyn. Love, Carol
Guzzi Avatar
February 8, 2011 at 7:41 AM
congrad's on your BIG win! Do the happy I'm #1 dance! Light & love
Fraser Avatar
February 5, 2011 at 5:21 AM
Many congratulations Carolyn on your win in Joyce's contest with this heartfelt poem. I wonder what the dog is thinking, of only we could know....:)
Pettit Avatar
February 4, 2011 at 4:43 PM
Congratulations on your win Carolyn. You have great descriptiveness and rhyming in these couplets.
Calhoun Avatar
February 4, 2011 at 1:15 PM
Hi Carolyn - Hey, isn't there any contest you don't win? Only kidding...I lost 3 friends in 9/11. Three more angels are watching over me, I guess. But, I miss them. A hard poem to read. Congratulations on your win in Joyce's contest. Best wishes, Kory
Radke Avatar
February 4, 2011 at 11:59 AM
Oh Carolyn. This is beautiful. Each and every line. Congratulations on this first place poem. I love it. One of my new favorites. Love, Deb
George   Avatar
February 4, 2011 at 9:13 AM
Congratulations on your first place win, Carolyn. Very touching poem. Love, Lainie
Richards Avatar
February 4, 2011 at 9:04 AM
A lovely poem, Carolyn, of love and courage! Congratulations on a wonderful winning write!! love, Carrie
Mannan Avatar
February 4, 2011 at 7:08 AM
This is awsome.Tons of congratulations for this victory.
Freeman Avatar
February 4, 2011 at 7:07 AM
Good to see you at the top Carolyn, a great Couplet friend. Agape, Moses
Onclaud Avatar
February 4, 2011 at 12:58 AM
endearing, carolyn!! love the beautiful monologue here.. doggy congrats for the big win.. :) hugggs, nette
Haick Avatar
February 3, 2011 at 10:35 PM
Congratulations on your Ist Place win in Joyce's "Doggy Gratitude" Contest, Carolyn. Love, Annalise
Poet Avatar
February 3, 2011 at 10:33 PM
Congratulations Carolyn on your big win in this contest!Enjoyed your wonderful poem---kashinath
Johnson Avatar
February 3, 2011 at 9:50 PM
Congratulations Carolyn. I am so glad that I decided to have double winners. There were so many that wrote their poems from the dog's point of view that I decided to judge them separately from those who had written from the point of view of the person seeing the picture. Great poem. Love, Joyce
Loving Iii Avatar
January 22, 2011 at 7:18 PM
i will not let myself go into this saddness
Beck Avatar
January 21, 2011 at 4:18 PM
Carolyn, I have no doubt this will win a top spot in the contest and I will be pleased when it happens.....a very touching tribute to firemen, for whom I have immense respect....used to teach a class of firemen science, maths etc...all of a sudden their beepers would beep...they'd all run out of class, lay their lives on the line...then come back an hour later or so, and calmly study again....amazing guys...best wishes...Syd
Dietrich Avatar
January 21, 2011 at 10:22 AM
hey, I came back here to see if your had posted for the limerick contest. I hope it was not too hard for you. It takes me a while to just THINK of what to say. Once you have the joke (the final twist in your mind) it can be easy to finish it up. Good luck, Carolyn. They look easy, but those l ittle limericks are not really so easy to do. Luv, Andrea
Peranteau Avatar
January 21, 2011 at 8:07 AM
What a wonderful write dear Carolyn ! I'm sure this poem will touch many hearts, as I see already it has ! Have a wonderful day dear poet ! much love, james
Bagnall Avatar
January 21, 2011 at 5:45 AM
Nicely rhymed, pleasant flow to the poem, enjoyed the reading.
Neels Avatar
January 21, 2011 at 4:53 AM
This is just beautiful and so heartwarming.. I love how you incorporated the WTC in your write as well.. All the best for JJ's contest ;) love Wilma
George   Avatar
January 21, 2011 at 3:36 AM
Great story, Carolyn! winner for sure. Lainie
Docherty Avatar
January 20, 2011 at 10:40 PM
A sobering poem of sobering moments... How difficult it must be for those directly affected to go about their daily duties today. Still now there are so many feel as if World Trade events were yesterday, as if a reality video on loop... Works perfect for the contest, good luck with it... Re "My Emily" - is not situation of own - thinking about a girl taken/murdered over Christmas in UK - I thought it would be of more impact to bring such an event closer to home... so ficticious - thank you!
Smith-Johnsen Avatar
January 20, 2011 at 10:09 PM
This great write captures the mood of the photo very well. It is a heart rending moment. Good luck in the contest. Lovingly, Dane Ann
Freeman Avatar
January 20, 2011 at 8:40 PM
This is such a tribute to all partys involved, Carolyn. It's a top notch expressing of the event, in the compassion that the photo depicted. Thanks for your comment on mine, I teared up writing it, thanking about animals expressing uncompromising love even to abusive owners. Agape, Moses
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