He stood with knowledge
eyes alert to the bubble, fingers
strong enough to hold a building.

Brick coins flipped, wrist snapped,
hawk fingered grabbed dead weight.
He held a spirit level

with a knights battle stance.
Tapped the brick on top
with egg splitting finesse.

His life was laid before him,
putting bricks to sleep with a scoop
and tap. Strengthening each joint.

In contrast, every brick I laid resembled
work from his teenage years. My wall,
hindered by life’s deception: time.

# # #

Gareth Culshaw lives in Wales. He is an aspiring writer who hopes one day to achieve something with the pen.

Photo credit: Larry Thacker   www.larrydthacker.com