Engine 34

On By Michele LeeIn Inspirational People, Verse
they studied
they trained
tested they were
Just like the men
fighting fires
saving lives
prepared they are
Just like the men
dedicated service
courageous acts
each shift brings
Another day for them
neither brave acts
nor lives saved
brought the cameras
Filming the four of them
vacations observed
schedules adjusted
caused a firehouse stir
Interest in the four of them
an “all-female crew”
now a headline
a first, but not permanent
Four firefighters making the news
👩🏻‍🚒👩🏻‍🚒👩🏻‍🚒👩🏻‍🚒🚒

Last summer, when writing the poems for my second collection, Being a Woman – Becoming, I watched a clip about a firefighting crew out of Pasadena, California who made national news for being the first all-female crew. Naturally, I had to write a poem about the four firefighters and include it in what I describe as my empowered poetry collection. 💪🏻 I sent copies of the published collection to the station and thanked them for their courage, bravery, and leadership. A dangerous vocation made even more dangerous by the excessive fires ravaging the west coast in recent years. With International Women’s Day just behind us and the National Women’s History Month upon us, I will be sharing a few more poems this month that honor and celebrate women. 💖 Being a Woman reader reviews and collection links are available on my “Being a Woman” page. 📚 😄 Illustration by Sammi Lee, illustrator of BAW collections.

I will return Saturday with musically-inspired lines that found me on the dance floor last night. Thank you for visiting. Be well. 🌞 Michele

© 2021 Michele Lee Sefton. All Rights Reserved.

67 thoughts on “Engine 34”

      1. Cute! I see women fire fighters often, because the fire engine repair station is right next to our house. The engines and crews go there after every call for a check up. So awesome to see the women shine in their chosen profession.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Awesome! You must feel a sense of safety, having them so close to you. I felt that sense of security, living across the street from a firefighter. Sadly, he moved. 😢 Good news – I saw him recently when I dropped off a bag of tangelos from our tree. 😀 They are heroes!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Probably best to not tie up emergency lines with singing, especially with all of those “oh, oh, ohs.” 😆 Firefighters are such amazing heroic humans – they can put out fires and help people, like Springsteen, who have “a six-inch valley through the middle of [their] skull.” Complete respect to the brave men and women who serve us. I just can’t resist writing a (bad) pun. 😂

        Liked by 1 person

  4. What a beautiful tribute, Michele. Your writing is as beautiful as your thoughtful heart! You represent us women well. 😉 I’ll have to check out the other pieces. And I can’t wait to hear about the music and dancing. My partner, Jeff, and my twin sister, Kristy, would laugh and say, “that’s exactly what Karla does!” I can break out into a dance and music at any time. LOL! Keep being you! 🤍💚❤

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    1. To your thoughtful and dancing heart, I say thank you for your kind words and for future reading. 🥰 How wonderful that you are a twin. Breaking out is good for the soul (and our moving feet). 😊 Keep dancing! 💖

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    1. Thank you for visiting and reading. 😊 I am happy you enjoyed the who and why behind Engine 34. If you are interested in learning more, there are articles and video clips online about their accomplishments. Hopefully their newsworthy all-female crew will eventually not make the news, but they are helping push progress forward. 💪🏻 👏🏻

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    1. A poem inspired while watching the news. That does not happen too often! Their story was/is inspiring and perfectly timed for addition to an empowered collection of poems. Thank you for your support. 🙏🏻

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  11. Michele, I think, in terms of physical conditions, men may be able to do more, lift heavier, and some things are physically easier for them. But women can also do anything. Besides, not all men are the same. Some can do more physically than others.
    In addition, women often bring skills that many men tend not to have. For example, a different approach and a high level of empathy.
    We can be happy that it is becoming more normal to have women in the professional fire department.
    I wish you all the best, Michele…💝
    Greetings from the beautiful Rhine-Highlands in Germany….
    Rosie

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    1. Rosie, thank you for taking the time to contribute to the conversation with your thoughtful and wise words, which I wholeheartedly agree with. It is inspiring and empowering to see women thriving in professions that were at one time not available for women. 🙌🏻 All the best to you artist Rosie. 🌞

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      1. Michele, when I think of the fact that at the beginning of the last century it was difficult for women to study or become a teacher or artist, or to realize their own life, I have reason to be pleased to see how much we women have already achieved. But we must keep moving forward. Its a lot to do.
        All the best to you, Michele… 💝

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Oh my gosh Michele, what a wonderful tribute to these amazing women, whose professional and capable skills to this team of firefighters is an outstanding attribute. I know they appreciated your show of unselfish admiration and affection for what they have sacrificed in order to get to the position where they are. 🙂

    Women have come a long way and we still have so much more to do in order to prove that we are not subhuman and that we can get the job done…with or without credit…we still get it done! Thanks for such a heartwarming poem! ❤ ❤ ❤

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    1. Your words inspire, Kym! I do hope the books made it to them. I can trust they did. Based on interviews I saw of them, I am sure they appreciated the media recognition, not for themselves, but for the greater implications of women making advancements in their field. Also based on interviews, they appear to be great role models for their peers and younger women looking to enter their field.

      Yes, we all have more work to do, but women keep pushing through. Thank you for your empowered womanly words and your sincere support. 💗

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      1. Michele, you are so kind. Continue empowering all of us in the way that you do. That is a gift. No matter what our platform may be, we are to be the encourages we were intended to be and the doer’s we are gifted to execute. 🙂

        We have made many leaps and bounds, that’s for sure. We are warriors, trendsetters, nurtures, overachievers, and caretakers. But we continue to lay the foundation for those generations that are behind us, because one day they will take the baton to hand off to the next person…to empower them.

        Girl, our work is never done…NEVER!!! ❤ Smooches!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Kym, your poetic words energize me. 🥰 They certainly do the same for anyone reading your passionate messages. Beautiful ~ “…we are to be the encourages we were intended to be and the doer’s we are gifted to execute.” 💗

        I wrote a poem, titled, “Human Relay” in my second collection that is about the passing of the baton. 💗💗💗 I have not shared the poem on my blog, but I would love for you to read it.
        True, we have work to do, like my dishes on the counter right now. 😂
        ❤ A joy reading your words and connecting with you. Smooches to you too!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Awww Michele, I’m verklempt! 🤗 I would love to read your poem. Your compassion is so inspiring and I truly appreciate your kindness and generosity. You can send it if you’d like, to my contact tab on my site http://www.kymgmoore.com. I would be honored to read your beautiful words. 🤩

        Have a fantabulous weekend dawlink! 😘😎🥰 Cheers! 🥂

        Liked by 1 person

      5. I look forward to receiving it Michele. Thank you for the honor to read it. 😀 We are expected to get some showers some time today. Maybe I can cut our grass that seems to have suddenly shot up faster this week than it did last week! LOL Be well. ❤

        Liked by 1 person

  15. A dear friend and neighbor when we lived in Huntington Beach was the first female fire fighter in our city’s fire department. Her stellar career there illustrates what Engine 34 demonstrates as well: women are endlessly capable of whatever they choose to pursue. We sought to instill that idea in our daughter, Andrea, and though she ran out of years way too soon, like her childhood friend across the street, she lived life fully and broke a few molds along the way. Engine 34 inspires us to understand that the old binders that so often held women to less than their potential are now being released on an ever-increasing scale. They are not by any means the only beneficiaries of this process; they are helping men cast off our shackles, too.

    The energy this is all making available is truly breathtaking. When Engine 34 rolls, we all ride along!

    Thank you for the reminder, Michele.

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    1. I always appreciate your visits to my site and marvel at your wisdom and how eloquently and poignantly you tell your stories. A beautiful blend of intelligence, emotion, and compassion. Thank you, Al. 🙏🏻💗

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  17. It is so interesting to see what people are interested in supporting and upholding, and inspiring to see the people who are breaking down previous conceptions and presenting their empowered faces to the world. I think my favorite part of this piece is that you sent copies of your collection to the team! What a lovely way to use your power with words to spread gratitude and thanks.

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    1. Absolutely! Breaking down status quo, in their case, one shift at a time. Thank you for acknowledging my delivery. It was an honor to write them letters and send them each a copy of our second “empowered” collection. Thank you!

      Liked by 1 person

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  22. Celebrating women shouldn’t be a one day event, we should praise and support women every day, some men still can’t do the things a woman can and yet a woman can do everything a man can do, to be honest women do things better anyway, from firefighters to military personnel and every other job, women should and can do whatever they want, brilliant post my lovely blog friend.

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    1. Women’s History month got an entire month, but I agree with you, of course! 😁 Your comments are honoring, respectful, and truthful, I must say. 😄 Physical strength may be a dividing factor, however, that depends on the individual. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Jack, and for celebrating women, everyday! 😄

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