In the quiet dawn, I wake with a heavy heart.
A knot in my chest, I just can’t depart.
Another round of stops, another work end,
I received a letter with the message I wanted them to rescind.

The office halls now look empty and cold.
Where I once toiled and where dreams were once bold.
Made redundant again, the letter said,
It is a familiar thread and a looming dread.

A severance check is such a bittersweet gain.
A few thousand is nothing but a balm for the pain.
What will happen to the children’s tuition, the mortgage due,
The groceries and bills are all piling up too.

On bended knees, I called in prayer,
Supplicating for God's guidance there.
In faith, I seek His light on this road of mine.
That it may lead to the path of His will, divine.

On the dark road, a spark ignites.
A flicker of hope in the darkest nights.
Years of wisdom with skills honed fine,
Shows a path uncertain yet clearly defined.

No longer bound by the office's clock,
A chance to rebuild from solid rock.
I dream of ventures, plans unfurled,
A new direction in this uncertain world.

I need to forge ahead and break the chain.
So I may rise above the loss and pain.
Where something ends, a new start lies.
A phoenix, born from ashes, will soon rise.