Gym Space

Gym Space

A forest of weights, small stacks

the jungle music of current pop 

the LED light.

If no one is present

the gym does and does not exist

empty in its purposelessness

whole lives lost when it is filled

and wounds healed.

When I walk through the quiet evenings 

and hear the gently movement of weights

repeating the same path

through the air

and hear the soft movement of muscle and sinew

and if I close my eyes

and ignore the pop music 

it is very much like a quiet evening

back on the farm

the gentle motion of things

even though you are still.

Ode to Worker Outers

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Ode to Worker Outers Draft #2 4/17/26

Here's to the workers and movers who accomplish no visible work

a weight that is lifted, suspended, and jerked.

Here's to the ones who wake up early and stay up late

to drink protein, to stretch out, and lift the weight.

Here's to the squatter, the bench presser, and the lifter of dead;

making gains in the quads, the pecs, and in the head.

Here's to the ones whose equity is blood, sweat, and tears

making down payments of grunts through the years.

Here's to the ones who never think of selfies or posts

who show up to workout, moving past you like a ghost.

And though you can't see them

And though you can't hear them

And though you can't find them

They are there

Quietly working out

because they care.

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Gym Space Draft #1 4/13/26 and 4/1426

Here's to the workers and movers who accomplish no visible work

a weight that is lifted, suspended, and jerked.

Here's to the ones who wake up early and stay up late

to drink protein, to stretch out, and lift the weight.

Here's to the squatter, the bench presser, and the lifter of dead;

making gains in the quads, the pecs, and in the head.

Here's to the ones whose equity is blood, sweat, and tears

making down payments of grunts through the years.

Here's to the ones who never think of selfies or posts

who show up to workout, moving past you like a ghost.

And though they are invisible to the rest of this realm

And though they are mute to everyone out there

And though their digital footprint does not exist....