gnarley fingers 
veil his face, 
skin thin and crusted 
at certain spots: 
splotched parchment 
of years in the sun 

moistness 
cascades 
from his forehead to 
his chin 
then meets gravity; 
raindrops 

through his soil-grimed 
singlet, jeans and boots; 
hours of toil 
simmer away 
in rivulets 
of forgetfulness.