My Lineman Dad
Dad, I see you scale those towering poles,
Braving stormy skies and bitter cold.
Your hands, worn strong, hold steadfast tight,
Repairing the lines to bring us light.
Through sleepless nights and endless calls,
You face the wind, the rain, it all.
A guardian of the current's hum,
Ensuring life's rhythm will always run.
I remember the mornings you'd rise before dawn,
Boots by the door, your gear already on.
Though the world may not know your name,
To me, Dad, you're a hero all the same.
Your hard work shaped the life we lead,
A quiet strength, a noble creed.
And when you'd come home, tired and worn,
Your smile, Dad, felt like the sun reborn.
So here's to you, my lineman, my guide,
The man I admire with limitless pride.
Your courage, your care, your unwavering way,
Will light my heart through every day.
When the lights flicker,
And the silence can remember
That haunting storm,
who came in September.
When the dark stills the night,
And rain dims the fires,
Burning through a soul who knows
Feelings stirred by desires.
When the gentle of a smile,
Floating soft on the linemen’s face,
Sent to bless away the fears,
Stirring hearts to seek God’s grace.
When all is said and done,
And the lineman’s race is run,
We can say that love has won,
Because his kindness shines like the sun…
And, yes, oh yes, with purpose and drive,
He places a sparkle in so many eyes,
Those who know, we really will survive,
Because, in time, we know these guys…
Linemen, who bring the lights to life,
Linemen, who still the fears who abide,
Linemen, who take away the darkest strife,
Linemen, who just take it all in stride…
I’m so thankful to God above,
For the glory of such sweet love,
For these days, I’ll make the most of,
Because, these linemen, I’m so in awe of!
Underestimated or appreciated but we don't care, We sign up for the thrill of heights with an extra scare Hot wires down and homes a'flare, We show up when others wouldn't dare When storms roll through taking power out, Is when people wonder where our lineman are at Leaving loved ones behind and kissing little ones goodnight Lineman head out in the dead of night Through cold or hot Long hard days Danger lurking at every phase We stick it out because we know our ways There's nothing we'd switch or change in the end, As long as you have power again
MEDITATIONS OF AN
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
I am the essence
of patience and method
No reckless trash talk; I never
say a word
I am John Henry, harder,
A hammer on your bones driving
spikes through your soul and
your disintegrating self esteem
We have a chunky young
tailback who dances through
turbulence like light through the
trees in a storm borne by wind
When he runs with me,
you’re never there
Elevating your game is just wasting
your time
I am the tiger in the grass by the river
of your demise
Too late you comprehend the aesthetics
of my violence, the pattern of my stripes,
the curve of my teeth, the savage nuance
of my mayhem
Go ahead, fight me if you must
but my arrival is always fatal
One day a hard working lineman;
Up a pole, went climbing;
On the line, he did hear,
His wife and her lover in his ear;
And now for divorce, he is filing.
Each day I climb a dozen poles
Or venture into underground holes
To run the lines that carry tones
Of voices into people's phones
Protect me Lord as I climb high
The poles that reach into the sky
And please, Lord, catch me should I fall
But better that not happen at all!
And as I crawl through dark, small spaces
Don't let me get stuck in one of those places!
And Lord, give me a sturdy truck,
And trusty tolls and lots of luck
Because my job isn't glamorous
Or thrilling, hip or amorous
But it can be fun, though kind of scary
Which is why I need you to be wary
And make sure I come home okay
At the end of every day
And as I run each telephone line,
I'll thank you Lord, for making this job mine
It takes a big, strong guy to play on defense.
However, you need more than brawn. You need intelligence.
You can’t let that offense run wild on game day.
Make them use their three downs, and they have to punt away.
As a defensive lineman, your sights are on the quarterback.
Penetrate that backfield, and throw him for a loss with a sack.
That gives your own offense the chance to win the game.
Play at all-star caliber, and you can make yourself a name.
Pulled himself to the very top
Looked over the world on high
Felt the warm and stirring breeze
falling from the sky
Knowing this was how it felt
to soar above the land
To feel so safe away from things
so free to be alive
Yet down the pole we all must come
to touch the very ground
This is where we laugh and play
gives us what we need
The loving smile of a young girl's face
a women's tender care
For up above the pole to fly
is nothing but the air
But on the soil we grow and live
to reach out, to touch, to give
So keep your feet upon the ground
take a good long look around
and see if flying above the pole
isn't like living in a hole
from where you never see
the reaching hands pulling you down
pulling you down to be
Looking for the formal definition, structure, and history of this poetry form? Visit the Poetry Dictionary entry below. Then return to explore how PoetrySoup members bring the form to life through their own poems.