It stood, this post

at the meeting of paths
where for decades the traffic had worked cross stitches
beneath its unseeing stare. Ever watchful,
always faithful, never false -
its calm silence
a sure witness
in life or death,
joy or sorrow,
a frequent arbiter
in times of doubt.

Until.
Until one who
owed it much
caused its fall.

Now
enveloped,
faithless,
useless,
it lies.