Swingshift Sweet Proletariat

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Open Poetry #23

Swingshift Sweet Proletariat

RSWells
Member Elite

since 2001-06-17

Posts 2533

0 posted 2002-10-16 05:54 PM

His whistle echoes brickly off the wall
loose boots unstrung whose tongues now flap and play
in sideways Sun that casts all shadows tall
as nightshift from the mill now meets the day

Once hale now frail a lunch pail stows beneath
honest toils dark oiled ham-like hands
through this soiled vision shine bright teeth
and eyes which through protective goggles scanned

The foundry din has whittled what he hears
the molten Bessemer has pared his eyes
yet still the morning bird's songs pierce his ears,
clouds latch the stray pastels across the sky

He knows enough to know the days are numbered
where steel men such as he can earn their keep,
for now he'll reign sublime and unencumbered
by flying weightless dreams in peaceful sleep.

"Happy people have no history" - French Proverb

majnu

Senior Member

since 2002-10-13

Posts 1088
SF Bay Area

1 posted 2002-10-16 05:56 PM

cool. a rare glimpse into factory life.

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

2 posted 2002-10-16 11:44 PM

Oh that was intense, and so real Richard. I used to watch the guys leaving the shipyards and they looked so spent, and I can't imagine the noise in a steel mill it must be unreal. You certainly painted an excellent picture of this kind of life, but I enjoyed the fact that this character took time to enjoy some pleasant surroundings as well. Nicely done, I enjoyed this one.

Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.

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