my landlord needed a rental 
floor to be repaired 
so he brought his cousin Jake 
to send under the house
with me
crawling on our knees then
shimmying on our backs
pulling six by six
beams, concrete bricks, wedges
and a single Eastwing Hammer
with J A K E written on the side

my landlord leaned at the opening
neither could hear
so I relayed information  
between the two 

Jake kept calling me
or himself Kemosabe 
while we jacked up the floor 
stacked the original stones
that had held for so long
smooth perfect squares
we didn’t use the new concrete 
blocks bought for the job
Jake said God could 
only make stones that perfect
and strong 

when we finished 
Jake told me this was all low coal
my landlord agreed 
from his square of light
both being ex coal miners
men now aged out 

Jake smiled at me
both out of breath and covered
by dirt, webs, and sweat
said what they had said in the mines

“it may be hell to you
but home to me”