Working Out

Working Out
Form: Free Verse

His muscles taut and strained struggle
to move the sack of coal from the gate
to the coal shed. His arms ripple with effort
until their strength fades out
and he changes position, his hands shifting to
the corners, as his finger curl up and round
the edges, tugging the hessian sack tight
against his chest and different muscles,
fresher muscles take over for a while. As he lifts
the sack up and his shoulders take up the strain
he slides the metal lid of the coal shed
and counter balancing the weight through
his thighs to his feet the coal rumbles and tumbles
falling into the blackness ready for winter.
And the old man sits by the blazing fire
sipping his tea and rolling a smoke
his legs stretched towards the grate
it’s snowing outside

©JGFarmer2022