Calling all poets! Corrections1’s poetry column highlights inspirational, moving and funny poems authored by our readers.
This poem is by Kenn Phillips, who has worked as a correctional officer for the state of North Carolina for over 17 years. He spent the first three years on night shift and then 14 years on day shift. He’s been back on nights for five months and has discovered how old he is getting, but he focuses on just putting one foot in front of the other to get him through. In his off time, he has published two novels on Amazon and is working on more, as well as children’s books and possibly a book of poetry.
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One Foot In Front of the Other
I’m so tired
My bones cry and scream, “No more ... please ... no more”
One foot ... in front of the other
I don’t want to be stuck here
My cup, full of liquid strength that fuels my mind
But is no salve for my hips and knees
These stairs ... these stairs
These feral faces, flaring nostrils, gnashing teeth
But now they slumber
And I must count them all
One foot ... in front of the other
Is there even a sky outside above me?
Might as well be pitch on the windows
Black and bleak as my dreams
Lights are dimmed in here
Wouldn’t want to wake the sleeping dogs
Better to let them lie
One foot ... in front of the other
Quietly, though, my dark side peeks its head out
And I don’t deter my keys from jingling at my hip
Is he breathing? I can’t tell
A click of a soft, rubber button
And a golden beam shines in his eyes
Just checking
One foot ... in front of the other
A thousand hours have crawled past my fingers
As they document every single moment
At last, here it is ... the time is nigh
The minute hand reaching high towards the twelve
And my relief ... where is my relief?
Come on! One foot ... in front of the other
Finally, keys and tools turned in
I’m out the door and I can see it
At the end of the path, through the gate
The shining chariot waiting to take me home
One foot ... in front of the other
Take me home
I collapse into the warmth of my bed
And not a moment later
The wretched sound
The alarm yelling orders
ONE FOOT ... IN FRONT OF THE OTHER
I’m so tired
I’m getting too old for this.
Original work by Kenn Phillips
October 2023