House ablaze, hissing, dying Crimson anguish My daughter upstairs, alone Helpless
Firetruck – red, loud, racing, screech HELP ME! MY BABY!! Trapped in her room!
Silent turn Rush to the door, mask on Heart pounding, seconds ticking Legs like pistons Crouch to the floor, below the boiling smoke The selfish flames Hurtle up the stairs, hands and knees, Down the hall, Grab her, Shaking arms tight round his neck Tears on his coat
Dead weight, limp, heave Through the gauntlet A life spared, others saved a lifetime Of pain, of loss A day at the office Life and death – timed.
October 21, 2001 22:20 Thoughts as I was trying to finish the closing arguments draft for Zoll v. City of Cleveland for Civil Procedure; how to get away from regulations to what the tests were about. I actually read it aloud as part of mock closing arguments in front of my class of over 120 people. Got some laughs but it was a fun memory of 1st semester law school.