Impact in the Trench

Stiffness snaps. A slow vibration thuds in my chest. Ground damp. Air cold. I take a heavy stride forward. The wet earth compacts underfoot with a dense, resonant thud. Not fixed. Responsive. To the side, a rough wooden stake protrudes from the dirt bank. I halt. I strike the post with a blunt tap. A dull knock echoes into the fog. The wood holds, but gives slightly under pressure. Limbs operate under my own force. I hold my stance in the mist, listening.