Cold Missouri Waters

My name is Dodge
but then you know that
it's written on the chart there at the footend of the bed
you think I'm blind
I can't read it
I've read it every word and every word it says is death
so confession
is that the reason that you came
get it off my chest
Before I check out of the game
Since you mention it
well there's 13 things I'll name
13 crosses high above the cold Missouri waters
August 49'
West Montana
the hottest day on record
the forest tinder dry
lightning strikes
in the mountains
I was crew chief at the jump base
I prepared the boys to fly
pick a drop zone
C-47 comes in low
feel the tap
on your leg that tells you go
see the circle
of the fire down below
15 of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters
gauged the fire
i'd seen bigger
so I ordered them to side hill
we'd fight it from below
we'd have our backs
to the river
we'd have it licked by morning even if we took it slow
but the fire crowned jumped the vally just ahead
there was no way down
headed for the ridge instead
too big to fight it
have to fight that slope instead
flames one step behind above the cold Missouri waters
sky had turned red
smoke was boiling
200 yards to safety
death was 50 yards behind
I dont know why
I just thought it
I struck a match to waist high grass
running out of time
tried to tell them
step into the fire I set
we cant make it
this is the only chance you'll get
but they cursed me
ran for the rocks above instead
I lay face down and prayed above the cold Missouri waters
when I rose
like the phoenix
in that world reduced to ahses
there were none but 2 survived
I stayed that night
and one day after
carried bodies to the river
wonder'd how I stayed alive
13 stations
of the cross to mark their fall
I've had my say
I'll confess to nothing more
I'll join them now
cause they left me long before
13 crosses high above the cold Missouri waters
13 crosses high above the cold Missouri shores.