"Voices from the Field."

Don’t stay silent about mental health stand up

Rising for another day

Stillness greets me at the kitchen table

Morning coffee wakes me from my slumber

Ready to meet the isolation of my job.

Life on the farm

Long hours my only companions are my animals

The sun still wearing his nightcap

Holding my touch a beam of light

Lights my path

Milking shed handle a gentle pull

Flicking the light switch illuminates

The empty parlour

Another day of loneliness

I try to suppress

My tears of darkness

I pull a level and the rumble

As the cake comes down the chute

And the clatter as it hits their feed bowls

Which jolts me back

I walk back out into the dawn

I want to scream but only

the night owls would hear me

My desperate pleas

I follow the touch light

Down to the field gate

I call my girls

I know each one by name

Do they know me by name

At least they have each other

I open the gate

I turn to follow

A warm nose touches my ear.

Milly, perhaps,

trying to cheer me.

The girls file into the milking parlour

I descended into the pit

The machine Busted into life

Radio blasts out a catchy tune.

As I follow the girls back down the track

Sun is radiating across the land

The distant chatter of the birds

Morning chores done

I make my way back

To the emptiness of the kitchen

Sitting at the table

Trying to focus on what new regulations

Have to be dealt with

A letter lay opened from the milk company

Another blow to worry about.

I find myself thinking

Dark thoughts

I love my farm

How much more can I endure

A knock at the door

Maybe someone heard

My silent plea for help

A friendly face

My emotions boil over

I final broke the silent taboo

And poured out the need for help

We sat each with a mug of coffee

They listened

This was my first step

On the path of understanding

Of my journey of loneliness

And mental health

I felt the dark clouds of shame

Were lifting.

No longer will I sit

staring into the dark void.

My friend had given me

my life back.

These tears that fall now

are tears of joy,

not sadness.

Stand up.

Don't stay silent.

You are not alone.

Reach out.

Someone will hear you.