The Father’s Shoulder

On his father’s shoulders,
the boy bounced higher—
one small fist, joining
ten thousand cheers,
waving his team’s colors.

Twenty seasons like this-
of growing together
father weaker, son heavier
the shoulder holds firm, still
despite aching sore

Then son gets called away
to fight the noble war
while father cheers him on
same pride, same burden
on the ageing shoulder.

Now, the son’s delivered
to those waiting shoulders
that witnessed, two arenas
one echoing with his son’s cheer,
the other wrapped in silence.