First Responder

Jumping into the fire

With no hesitation or fear

Is the mark of a hero

Or mark of an absolute idiot, I must say

Why would you risk your life to save another?

Or to save anything at all, indeed?

For nothing is certain,

Not even the gears of the clock

That spin their way towards us

Nor the purposeful night

Which is followed by day

In periphery

Not even death

Which greets us as a companion

For how can we be sure

About what has not yet arrived?

Time is the byproduct of lies

Perhaps that is why

You jump into the fire

Fearless

And determined

And only as safe

As you allow yourself to be.

I forgive you for that

In case we don’t meet,

Again

And again

I capitulate your fate

As you might capitulate mine. Hanna is a Muslim-Canadian writer. She enjoys writing both poetry and long-form novels.