Dad hands me a hammer and sets me to work
and as my arm starts snapping
everything slips away
the relaxation of destruction
and the creation of muscle
the strengthening of bones
nothing better to do
but pulverize those little things
and spread them on the compost pile.

Arms flail like vines
but snap taught,
fast,
perfect cycles
to make and destroy
like time itself.
Gives me power in days of fear
to just swing a hammer.