The Workaholic at 51st & Fifth
[Atlas faces off St. Patrick]
Square toes support his epic thighs,
bronzed bulges of Art Deco,
brows crinkled into parabolic furrows,
he fixates on the cracks in the sidewalk,
with wordless yogic determination,
he shoulders too much
scheming to outduke Hercules.
Across the street
spectacular spires soar skyward
unnoticed by Atlas,
overwhelmed by the worries of this world.
[The sculpture is by Lee Lawrie, 1936]