I cut down the trees
I sanded the wood
I leveled the earth
and founded the floor
I raised the walls
and raised the roof
I hung my hooks
and hung my doors
In the end
I had calluses
& blisters
& aches
& cramps
and my own creation
and my own dwelling
But in this lifetime
a company built my house
an architect designed
an engineer calculated
a representative sold
a secretary xeroxed
a banker leant
a cementer poured
an electrician wired
a plumber piped
a carpenter nailed
and finally,
a laborer labored
In the end
He had calluses
& blisters
& aches
& cramps
and went home to a house
that he didn’t build
but rested in the comfort he’s given
to hundreds of families
who’s homes he helped with