With These Hands

With these hands, I . . .

Deadlift

Clean

Snatch

Pull up

Thruster

Bench

Swing

Press

Jerk

Row

Push Up

Walk, for short distances.

Throw things to the sky. And catch them again.

Do work.

Sometimes, these hands bleed, no matter how I try to avoid that happening.

These hands are used to pat people on the back, to lift them up, but they are also slammed down in frustration, raised in victory, and used to beg for mercy from above.

With these hands, I pray. And then I lift the barbell, and my soul.