The Nightwatchman

Clocking off at first light, the nightwatchman

Bids a gooday, howzit to the blurry eyed binmen

Before heading home. He does not envy them.

The endless thanklessness of invisibility

His routine reminder of how the night’s anonymity

Accords a dignity sunup denies. Amon-Ra

Is a deity undisposed towards small men,

The monotony of life like life.  

Thebes will never be his city. Her hungers

Are appetites far too rich for the meagreness of his assigned station.

Where he disappears to once the world of Glass & Gold awakes,

Begins the daily exhaustion of decimals, is a question

I’ve pondered, but never dared to ask him.

Though I’ve heard rumours of a place somewhere up sun.

Ken e Bujold 

Reviews

[emmajoygreen]

A night watchman - a person who lives and goes in near invisibility as far as the world is concerned. A special job done by a special person, he who would appear to go happily alone and in half dark. Is that a joy or a secret, does he (possible she, these days) look forward to work, does it have a mystery perhaps?

'Where he disappears to once the world of Glass & Gold awakes,
Begins the daily exhaustion of decimals, is a question
I’ve pondered, but never dared to ask him.
Though I’ve heard rumours of a place somewhere up sun'

The very thought of those words could be happiness rather than isolation or - needs unknown

[Betty Hermelee]

I Think a night watchman's job is a mixed blessing...if one is a loner , or one likes to read, or one is a-social, then night jobs are not terrible....except nobody really knows or cares about you....which could apply to any night job, (except in a factory) While dawn (day) jobs are more congenial, people see and speak with you...one is social, smiles, talks, listens and laughs...."the endless thanklessness of invisibility"
could be a very lonely life.... I like the comparison...
Warmly, B

[Lorry]

I truly do envy the night watchmen for their silent contemplation being their lone colleague as they keep the world safe one night at a time.
We cannot all be lovers of glass and gold, which brings with it only the noise of the woken of their pattern filled programmes that deny them the silence of night.
I have heard those rumours too, but only in my mind without the need to voice them.
Another superbly captured piece my friend.

[Chris Shaw]

Second visit. I lost my first response in the ether Ken, so here goes again. The night watchman’s shift certainly has more appeal to me than the binmen’s dawn start, when everything is starting to coming alive. That’s because I don’t like noise or crowds. I enjoyed the contrast here. I like the idea of quiet and safety at night. You created some vivid imagery with this write Ken. I enjoyed the setting here.

Chris

[W. Barrett Munn]

I wonder what this would sound and feel like modernized to an urban setting.

[Poetic Beauty]

The night offers more anonymity than the daylight hours. During the day that are some many people coming and going. The grandiose hustle and bustle of waking hour life. The night is quieter, less traffic leads movement and far more shadows to hide behind and go about without ever prying eyes to pass judgement.

This is simply the thoughts that your poem allowed my mind to think while reading it.

[Neville]

both intriguing and compelling .. the twists and the turns grabbed me and held me fast .. I could not escape, but then, I did not want to .. it's an honour to get here first and truly .. Neville