the guy at the gym

was so enormous

just scratching his nose

was a big performance

his tribal tattoos were equally huge

laid end to end they’d have decorated Bruges

he worked on his triceps, biceps, lats

with his name chalked up on a board of stats

explosive breaths, colossal clunks

weights the size of railway shunts

his baseball cap worn back to front

his spotter stood up by his shoulders

looked like him but a few years older

chatted about rugby, kids, divorces

that time he tried for the special forces

‘Mate – I won’t even BE here at fifty!’

he said with a grunt as he sat up stiffly

‘I’m travelling the world: Thailand, Sydney

I just need someone to go there with me’