The Fires of '68

You had to think on your feet, you had to remember how much you had to pull from
you remember the water mains
you remember the fires of '68

no one was ready
no one saw it coming

but you

those sky licking red hot flames, furious with black smoke
seeking to destroy
fury and torpor all at once, reckless destiny
and a careless shrugging god

you remembered the mains. you knew where you had to pull from
you knew what it would take to stave this beast of conflagration: more than it had

you have to survive it. you have to pull from everywhere.
you have to look it in the eyes and dare it.
you have to match this monster.

as if every celebration were a war
as if every war
were a celebration.