Stazja McFadyen
 
Hardworking Man

He's a man, by God!
hardworking, barefisted
common man
no cattle baron
only teat he ever milked
was his
sweat leaking
down his chest
sweating blood
from one week to the next
to earn the daily bread
to feed the mouths
depending on him
honest work is all he knows
cheating only
one night in a month
waging yesterday's wages
on hopes for tomorrow
never bluffing himself
on a losing hand.

No captain of industry
fifty-some hours of labor a week
he hammers a living
to nail down another
payment on a note
on his fishing boat
stealing sundays
from the wife
he loves in secret
hasn't been to church
in thirteen years
not fearing for his soul
he lives an honest life
hardworking
grizzled
calloused
brawling
gambling fishing loving man
important only to himself
but he's a man, by God!

Poetry Magazine