A Shovel's Weight

By D G Moody

Mon, 17 Jun 2024
  • 635 reads
6 comments
 

Arthur Lawrence to his wife Lydia.         

You say my nails are dirty,                                               
and I say they are the nails                                           
of a working man, and these                                           
nails are on the fingers                                                         
of a working man, and these                                           
fingers are on the hands                                                     
of a working man, and these                                     
hands are on the arms                                                     
of a working man, and these                                             
arms are on the shoulders                                                  
of a working man; and I carry                                     
you all on my shovel as I dig                                                    
for the coal that grimes my skin.                                            
So, milady do not disdain me,                                              
for though I am but a working man                                                
I am not ashamed of what I am.
         
     © D G Moody 2024

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Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Satisfying labour, and satisfaction of supporting through it. And the witness in the soiled and calloused hands. I liked this. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

Thanks Rhiannon. I have always preferred Martha over Mary, and in a similar way I thought that Lawrence's dad got short shrift, while his hard life down the pit put food on the table.

Dougie Moody

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Oh, we sympathise with Martha, but Jesus did say Mary had chosen the better part, to  listen to Him at that time! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by D G Moody on

Sure, but who did the washing up? wink

Dougie Moody

Submitted by airyfairy on

I like this very much, and the image of carrying the weight on the shovel is so striking. The ones who keep our society functioning are so often overlooked.

Submitted by D G Moody on

Thank you Jane. In my own childhood my father did carry us all on his shovel - that was a granny, mum, and up to seven kids (not all home at the same time). he also read Lawrence, while me and my mates managed to get a copy of Lady Chatterly's Lover thinking it would be salacious - but for fifteen year olds it was just boring.

Dougie Moody