Lighthouse Keeper
Lighthouse keeper vacancy announced
Envelope delivered; the Son read contents aloud
Smiles turned into laughter, then into a shout
Parents and Son hugged before he set off
Applicants sitting quietly, when Into the room strides a man
Age etched on his face, a cheery smile, sparkle in his eyes
Sat himself down in front of group, his smile comforted
Questions asked and answered, nothing is written down.
The elderly man, watched and listened to all the interaction
Hour after hour, the ticking of the clock seemed louder
He touched our hero on the shoulder
The job young man is yours
Despite all others challenging for the position
Shouts of joy and clapping followed
The day arrived, directions had been given
Arrived at a place never seen before
Our hero was met with giant Waves racing toward the rocks of a lonely cove
A shake of hands as he met with the lighthouse keeper
Somehow seemed rather sprightly as they walked toward the lighthouse
Was this the same older man seen before?
No time to waste, up the steps they climbed
the lighthouse keeper ran never missing a step
They reached the top, our hero gasped at the scene
fifty metres off the ground, sat this whitewashed pinnacle
One eye that rotated during the darkness of night
This lighthouse would soon be his to maintain.
Months of training followed, words were said that made him shudder
the time has come for me to to let go of the reins quietly said
A shake of the hand, he watched as the old man disappeared from sight
Days turned into weeks and months tending to the light that shined so bright.
Standing at the perimeter of the one-eyed monster,
Safety rails in place, sometimes holding tightly
This evening a storm had gathered
Thunder and lightning as never seen or heard before
Voices are hearkened, that is absurd, cries of distress carried by the wind.
Down the steps faster than ever before, out into the night, all on his own
Fighting the wind and the lashing rain he looked out over the angry sea before him
He listened for the voices he had heard earlier
The white foam of the waves, revealing nothing
Did he imagine, he used his trusty flashlight to scour the sea
He imagined himsealf as a human lighthouse surveying the scene
No sign of wreckage, the voices now not heard
Silence other than waves crasing on the rocks
Standing and watching, hour after hour
He returned to the shelter of the lighthouse
He started his daily checks within the pinnacle of his new home
Daylight at last brought the sunshine, he walked the perimeter
His eyes met with a sad sight, bodies on the rocks, how can this be?
Down the steps, this time in a dream sequence
Standing and looking at lives taken
Local lifeboat crew arrived and comforted a broken man
That evening arrived, every time he closed his eyes, demons appeared.
Holding the safety rails tighter than normal this evening
Dangerous voices inside him were calling
Throw yourself off, repeated constantly, his grasp relaxed; he had let go
The silence that followed seemed to look down at the scene
Coastguard visit found our hero, tears and words echoed from those in attendance
An old man stepped forth from the shadows asked for ownership of the scene
All nodded in agreement time for duties to take place
The funeral was a quiet place, Mam and Dad standing unsure of feelings
Agreement on fitting end, cremation and ashes in a bonded friendship secret place
The lighthouse now manned by someone new
On stormy evenings, as they hold the rail
A figure would appear as bright as day
A voice carried by the wind, never ever let go.
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