To My Coworkers

To My Coworker

I see you…

I see you carrying that burden
shoulders hunkered
beneath the weight
of vaccine mandates

I see you…

Now wondering,
will I violate my conscious
and prostitute my beliefs
because I need a job

I see you…

I see you on the precipice
in weighing the consequence
between conscious and responsibility
all the while your will being broken

I see you…

I see you slowly dying inside
expected to work with soul bent
grieving a time that will be no more
when we treated each others choices
without threat to livelihood

I see you…

I see you wanting
to just live your life
being left alone
pondering if you will ever
sleep in peace again

I see you…

I see you carrying it home
the contention in your home
spouses not on the same page
rift that splits between the sheets
the mandate weaseled it's way like that seductress

I see you…

I see you coming back in the next day
bent a little more
tipsier than the day before
weariness rooted in your eyes

I see you…

I see you and

I offer you my ear
to offload your burden
if only for a moment

I see you…

I see you and
I'm walking
down the same path
waiting to hear

I see you…

21-291Z
#highplainspoet