Men at Work

For blocks around, the black and yellow towers
Soar above the construction site
Approach to hear the cacophony
Of grinding, hammering, shouting
Men at work

Look up for a glimpse of their project
Come closer and the view ahead’s obscured
By tarpaulin-shielded, chain-link fencing
Come closer yet to find
Not all is opaque

See the upturned earth where the new building
Will have its foundation
The broken-up rock and concrete that
Will be carried away
See immense machines marching and
Men at work
In their hard hats and reflective gear
Work gloves and blue jeans

This morning’s kindergartners
Scattered the playground at summer camp
Letting the sand slip through their fingers
And the cool wind ruffle their t-shirts
Grinding down their temporary towers
Hammering away at invisible inventions
Yelling away, but with their reasons
Deeply engaged in the earnest business of
Children at play

Back at the work site
Look about to find
A bald-headed old man
In a beat-up windbreaker
Use the fence to steady himself
And discover a spot
Where two posts
Are imperfectly joined
To offer an unimpeded view of
Men at work
That leaves the old-timer
Shining the ecstatic beam of a
Little boy

— 30 —