The hot sun drenched us, warm sweat rolled down my cheeks

the shovel was getting heavy

my arms were getting weak

but if that ditch taught me one thing, it's the power of a job

to feel like you are useful, to learn and hurt

every night I came home aching I raked in a meager pay

but then I sat in silence  and looked forward to next day

I rehearsed the nail gun in my dreams, the hack saw in my nightmares

and gathered myself up the next day to face my fears.  

If a silly construction gig can teach character,

there are no bounds to what I will do later.