Our Aching Backs

they used their backs to
dig coal in deep mines under
dim lamplight, to plant
seeds in the spring sunshine,
to tend the fire for cooking.
at night, they rested, their
backs recovering from long labors.
today we use our backs to carry
our worries, feeling them cramp
up as we sit in front of our computers,
our bodies frozen at our ergonomically
designed work stations.
at night, we toss and turn, our
backs never releasing the worry
in our guts.

Photo courtesy of http://flickr.com/photos/erskingardner/320063199/