You are all Atlas

Man.

Old hirsute wizened weathered troubled man

I see you.

Not just your face but the stories it tells

Through crooked grin

It’s in hallowed eyes

Begging to be remembered

History places too many in the background

This is for you, man

For the man who tasted sweat on his lips and knew

This was the taste of life

Who discovered that sweat and tears taste the same;

Sweat, tears and blood flavor the soil

Something palpable and human and ancient.

The man who carved history from the back of the earth

Hands calloused, marred like the ground

These are the hands of Man,

The marks of Man, the pride of Man,

Grizzled specimen of survival and struggle and selflessness

I will remember you

I will call you uncle, brother, cousin, friend

Hold your head high you

Appalachian champion, you

Southern gentlemen, you

Dust bowl denizen, you

Patroller of the Pacific Northwest

You are a history of perseverance and failure

And perseverance and success.

Building block of a

Solid sort

You are Whitman,

Your words bring earth to page to life

You are Sooner, you are Settler, you are epitome.

You are my Uncle, 30 years of days

in dark earth belly.

You are my father, putting

God and family before himself

You are me

And my father, and my grandfather,

And his father

You are us.

Thank you for carrying us

You carry us so well.