work and money

I've known people
who love to work.
whether selling shoes, or
shoveling coal,
cars, or meat,
encyclopedias door to door.
they get lost
in work.
a safe haven from others.
from small talk,
from love,
from pain.
the steel mill, the farm,
hands on the potter's wheel,
sunrise to sunset.
work
and money. work and money.
all day long.