The Old Work Horse
I always love the feel of sweat on my shirt
Stand back, son, and let a man work
Let a man work, is that so wrong
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
~ Bruce Springsteen, Shackled and Drawn
A few days ago, Jeff Lynch posted some images he made of relics in Big Bend National Park.
I recently came across an old relic as well, an old work horse from the fields of Central New Jersey.
I pass by this barn a lot….but this time, the bay door was open. Not sure why. Vandals sprang it open? The owner did, and forgot to close it? Well, since it was open…I thought I’d have a quick look around.
I didn’t expect to find this old boy. Sitting there, parked in the back on busted tires. Slumped. Pockmarked and rust rotting out his tired frame.
He has put in his time. Put in the work he was told to do. No complaints. Turn the key, engine started. Tires rolled. Roof kept the sun and rain out of the cab.
Now, it was his time to rest, perhaps a bit ignobly in an nearly empty dilapidated barn.
But he still looked proud, beautiful, in the diffused afternoon light.
Perhaps I’m the one to photograph the old boy for the last time.
Wonder what the first one looked like.
Freedom, son, is a dirty shirt
The sun on my face and my shovel in the dirt
The shovel in the dirt keeps the devil gone
I woke up this morning shackled and drawn
© Mark V. Krajnak 2012 | JerseyStyle Photography | All rights Reserved
JerseyStyle Photography 
I loved ‘The Old Work Horse’ – especially the first photo. I also liked the words you put with the pictures – giving the truck a story to tell. (It was even a little sad…but, I really enjoyed it.)