Sam the koala bear sat with the firefighters idly by her side,
Had they had not gotten to her oh so very quickly, surly she would have died.
The fire spread so quick, how could this happen, it was not long ago,
When Sam sat in a tree basking in the warm sun feeling the morning glow.

In the forests of Australia is where the eucalypt leaves always like to bloom,
You can find them high up in the trees where Sam always likes to loom.
Koalas really love these leaves, in fact it’s what they like to eat,
As Sam just settled down for a morning rest from her eucalypt treat.

It was up in Sam’s favorite tree far and away from the rest of her mates,
Where Sam had eucalypt leaves galore, more than she could fit on just one plate,
That’s probably why Sam could not hear the calls of danger coming from all around,
As animals and critters of every kind scurried along the ground.

Now Sam could not see the animals below as her eye sight was really poor,
As a cloud of smoke came through the tree’s and covered the forest floor.
With a keen sense of smell Sam suddenly smelled smoke, what was she to do?
She’d climb down the tree and take a look around to find someone that she knew.

Sam got to the ground and she could see even less,
The smoke filled in thick and the forest laid a mess.
The fire spread quickly through the trees as you could hear its whistles and cracks,
No more Koala’s in that direction, time to make some tracks.

Kangaroos came jumping on by Sam as Koala’s are very slow,
One stopped to tell Sam “You had better get going, there’s a forest fire you know?”
“I’m trying my best but for a Koala this is my top speed,”
“Well climb up on my back before you get burnt a lift is what you need!”

“Thank you young roo, my name is Sam, have you seen any koalas like me?
I’m looking for my family, I lost them this morning and I wonder where can they be?”
“I’m sorry there Sam I awoke to the fire and my family was on the move,
I heard that the koala’s headed up over the hills where their safety would improve.

I can take you to the edge of the forest but from their your own your own,
My home is gone and I must stay with the rest of my kin as we travel into the unknown.”
The roo and Sam ran across the burnt land with bright flashes of yellow and red flame,
Black soot filled the forest where beauty used to flourish, this truly was a shame.

The roo dropped Sam off right where he had promised and they both said goodbye,
But when Sam got to the top of the hill and looked down, she slowly began to cry.
The forest lay in ruin and there was no other koala’s, nothing to be seen,
Just smoulder and ash covering every living thing, everything that was once green.

With the fire closing in around him Sam’s choices were very clear,
She would have to walk across the freshly burnt land if she wanted to see the next year.
The ground was so hot it burned at her feet,
The smoke became thick that Sam just wanted to sleep.

Not knowing if she would make it Sam let out a loud koala sound,
A cry for some help if anyone was still around.
When out from the shadows came a ray of light,
It couldn’t be the sun thought Sam but the color was so bright.
The object got much closer and now Sam could clearly see,
A man in a bright yellow jacket and name that said David Tree.
I know that koalas can’t read a name it’s just for you to know,
Firemen are everyday heroes people to bestow.

 With no place to hide Sam’s heart started racing, surely what could she do.
“Hey there little fellow, good thing you bellowed out or I never would have found you.
Your buddies were all rescued and will probably be happy to see
One more family member safe and sound from this catastrophe.”

Sam was not sure what to do she was exhausted and at her end,
Fireman David pulled out a bottle of water and fed it to his new friend.
“Now that’s a thirsty little koala if you have ever seen one before
Let’s get you out of here and find your family before this fire begins to roar.”

On the walk on out Sam looked around at the devastation that was his home,
No more birds were chirping, he was feeling all alone,
Until she got a glimpse of the rest of the koala’s hanging in some nearby tress,
Protected by Sam’s friends the fire fighters put her mind at ease.

Thanks for All You Do
Fire Fighters around the World