I wish you could know,

I wish you could feel,

But you can't, you never will

We fight back the tears,

We'll never let you see us cry,

Not even our own family.

I don't know if I can tell you how it feels,

To hold a lifeless body of an eleven month old girl

in your hands,

Who will never grow up to say " I love you Daddy, "

Or tell someone their loved one will no longer be.

We are strong for those who need us,

Yet all the bottled up emotions inside us,

We'll never let you see.

Nathan A. Smith

Clendenin Volunteer Fire Dept.

March 15,2004