Courage

The West, is creation's best

sculpted by ice, wind and fire.

Her children made to match the land,

twisted rawhide and barb wire.

The half moon hangs blood red,

Over a valley choked with smoke,

Stillness beyond quiet,

no night bird or cricket sings.

as nature waits in silent dread ,

to see what tomorrow brings.

Have heard the true voice of courage?

it's not the bravado of fighting men.

It's the whisper of a woman standing in the ashes,

saying " We shall build again! "

Mike Puhallo

I wrote this poem in August 2003  when the firestorm was at it's worst. Gary Fjellgaard took a couple of lines from the poem and turned them into a song, Raw Courage,  which he recorded and released as a single, donating all the proceeds to the North Thompson Fire Relief Fund. Gary Has included that song on his new Album Carraganna Wind which he will debut at a concert  in Barriere BC Friday June 24.  Matt Johnston and  will be opening for him.