At The Gym Poem by Mark Doty

At The Gym

Rating: 3.3


This salt-stain spot
marks the place where men
lay down their heads,
back to the bench,

and hoist nothing
that need be lifted
but some burden they've chosen
this time: more reps,

more weight, the upward shove
of it leaving, collectively,
this sign of where we've been:
shroud-stain, negative

flashed onto the vinyl
where we push something
unyielding skyward,
gaining some power

at least over flesh,
which goads with desire,
and terrifies with frailty.
Who could say who's

added his heat to the nimbus
of our intent, here where
we make ourselves:
something difficult

lifted, pressed or curled,
Power over beauty,
power over power!
Though there's something more

tender, beneath our vanity,
our will to become objects
of desire: we sweat the mark
of our presence onto the cloth.

Here is some halo
the living made together.

COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 20 November 2015

Though there's something more tender, beneath our vanity, our will to become objects of desire: we sweat the mark of our presence onto the cloth. - - I enjoyed his conversation with us about the reason we go to the gym

15 0 Reply
READ THIS POEM IN OTHER LANGUAGES
Mark Doty

Mark Doty

Maryville, Tennessee
Close
Error Success