Silent Atlas
It's 5:30 AM, sky bruised and quiet,
And he’s there at my feet, my loyal companion,
Eyes bright, no judgment, just need.
Out we go, one steady step, then another,
Field sprawled wide, we chase the edges of dawn.
Back home, the soft hum of her breathing,
Kids' backpacks lined, the day pulls at me
Like a string too tight, ready to snap.
She’ll mention Kirsty or Chanelle, that sour glance,
The unseen weight settling deep in my chest.
Dog's been sick on the sofa,
a mess to clean up.
Gaffer’s on edge; I was late last week,
Late again today, but I hold tight, keep my mouth shut,
Because I know my place in this ticking machine,
My hands on the wheel, the weight on my back.
Site hazards, the grind, every move a risk,
One wrong turn, it’s out the door,
No job, no check, holiday slipping away,
Kids’ smiles are just dreams I’m not sure I can keep.
And here I stand, silent, loaded with fear,
Shoulders set to hold all we need.
The night job was gone in a flash,
Zero hours, zero thought, zero hope.
I glance at my phone, every message a pull
To face the ones I’ve not seen in too long,
Mates left waiting in the empty hours
While I traded my joy for duty’s hard call.
Fuel’s low, spirits cracked,
And there she is, our little girl,
Waiting to dance with a smile I missed.
I sit here, empty tank, empty hands,
Wondering if I’ll break, if I’ll bend or stay still,
When the phone rings, it’s him, my friend,
The voice I forgot could ease this weight.
With words of work, a hand held out,
A site to supervise, steady pay on the rise,
I take his offer, grip tight to his faith.
And in his strength, I feel my own,
A quiet reminder that I am not alone.
So I go home, kiss foreheads soft,
Tell her I’m sorry for what I can’t always say.
My battle is quiet, a shadow I bear,
So they don’t know the scars I wear,
So they don’t feel the tremor beneath,
The moments I wrestle, the pain I hide.
Because I am here for them always.
A silent Atlas, strength worn down,
But still, I carry the world, weight and all.
And tomorrow, I’ll wake with dawn’s bruised sky,
Dog by my side, loyalty unasked but given.
And I’ll breathe, keep walking, one step, then the next,
Knowing that love is the light I keep,
And for them, I’ll rise, I’ll stand, I’ll protect.
Copyright © Joshua Legister | Year Posted 2024
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