Chopping My Way To Reality

[Jassy Melson]

It's not easy.
Nothing of worth comes without effort.
I hold the hard smooth ax handle
cupped in my hand
and I marvel that something so hard
can be so soft at the same time.
I heave the ax over my head
and bring it down on the log.
Aiming for the center
at the right grain
I split it with one whack.
And my ears tingle in satisfaction
at the crackling splitting sound
of ax entering wood.
One down
and twenty-three to go.
My muscles rebel against such physical labor.
I let out a chuckle, telling my muscles
“This is what you deserve, you've been idle too long.”
Breathing heavily, I suddenly realize
this is as close to reality
as I can get. What can you expect
from a sixty-three-year-old man?
I know nothing about Zen
but if it exists
this is it.
I laugh aloud at the physical joy/exertion
of working wood,
at the feel of the ax in my hands
and the loud thump when it hits the wood
causing a jar through my whole body.
Life is good;
and work defines us,
manual labor makes us come alive.
It's one of the few ways to come close
to the state of reality.

[Delta40]

I like your description between the axe and wood and the almost manic laugh tied into the plain statement of what labour will do for a man.

I hold the hard smooth ax handle
cupped in my hand

I would suggest you edit this. perhaps the hard smooth ax handle is cupped in my hand

[YesNo]

I think the physical exertion forces one to pay attention and not get lost in one's mind. I used to burn wood when I was younger, but not anymore. It does involve a lot of exertion, but I remember dozing off in my mind when doing that as well to escape from reality.

[motherhubbard]

My husband will love this! And I agree, there is peace, joy, and staisfaction that comes with splitting wood :D

[firefangled]

Nicely described. Very perceptive. Splitting wood beats all the mantras you can think of, So does planing and sanding wood.

[Jassy Melson]

This is one of the easiest poems I have ever composed because all I had to do was tell the truth in a plain unadorned unsymbolic way

[Bar22do]

I enjoyed your poem, thank you, and it reminded me I really have to get back to some physical activity to keep in shape (body AND mind!) - best and a REALLY good New Year to you! Bar

[Jassy Melson]

Thank you very much. Happy new year to you too.