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laying cold rolled steel down.
Hands tote picks, sledgehammer pings
Against railroad spikes driven through Appalachian mountains.
Carving switchbacks by hand. John Henry was a Gandy Dancer.
Bending rail with black biceps at full exertion.
Ping.
The hammer falls in time.
Ping.
The hammer falls in cadence.
Permanent sweat stains form salty halos under swinging arms.
The Gandy Dancers sing.
" I don't know but I been told, Suzy got a jelly roll
Suzy Suzy don't you know, I can make your belly grow"
Ping.
The hammer falls.
