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From: will.dockery@gmail.com (W.Dockery)
Newsgroups: alt.arts.poetry.comments,rec.arts.poems
Subject: Re: Long Long Time / Will Dockery
Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2025 06:21:08 +0000
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General-Zod wrote:
> Will Dockery wrote:
>> Ilya Shambat wrote:
>>> Will Dockery wrote:
>
>>>> Long Long Time
>>>>
>>>> In my upstairs work area
>>>> at the old Jordan Mill
>>>> looking out the window
>>>> overlooking the river.
>>>>
>>>> I heard the siren blow
>>>> I saw the black funnel crossing over
>>>> with a howling sound
>>>> like "Here comes my train."
>>>>
>>>> The storm was blasting
>>>> outside of the second floor.
>>>> The dust then circled
>>>> and settled on the floor.
>>>>
>>>> The ceiling spun
>>>> into chopped hunks
>>>> busted at my feet.
>>>> Whatever was happening
>>>> the chaos was complete.
>>>> So I left
>>>> and took the future with me.
>>>>
>>>> The winds were huffing
>>>> sideways wet air all about,
>>>> I sat in the smoking booth
>>>> on the second floor looking out.
>>>>
>>>> Shipping through the device
>>>> bale after bale
>>>> passes through.
>>>>
>>>> On a twelve hour shift
>>>> I'd stand and watch them roll past
>>>> from one hopper
>>>> to the other.
>>>>
>>>> I'd been up and down old Broadway
>>>> trying to sell my wares,
>>>> while the ladies have no time for me
>>>> or for any of my cares.
>>>> So I left
>>>> and took the future with me.
>>>>
>>>> Te orange of the sun
>>>> shined down on the Earth
>>>> through black clouds
>>>> and more of that sideways rain.
>>>> "The Devil's beating his wife."
>>>>
>>>> I adjusted the mechanism
>>>> when it became too speedy
>>>> or I needed a smoke break
>>>> or an elevator haul.
>>>>
>>>> Switching empty carts
>>>> for full
>>>> or vise versa
>>>> postponed to the night.
>>>>
>>>> Near the window where the light was
>>>> dust particles sparkled
>>>> all that history
>>>> what was it worth?
>>>>
>>>> On the assembly line
>>>> at the old factory
>>>> where I worked for nearly a decade.
>>>>
>>>> Before I jumped the fence
>>>> before they chained the gates
>>>> each day was basically the same.
>>>>
>>>> The belt was moving fast
>>>> I registered,
>>>> poured a coffee
>>>> and punched a code on the buttons
>>>> on that heavy green machine.
>>>>
>>>> Waited for the conveyor belt
>>>> to roll down
>>>> another bale of cotton.
>>>>
>>>> Shipping through the device
>>>> bale after bale
>>>> passes through.
>>>>
>>>> On a twelve hour shift
>>>> I'd stand and watch them
>>>> roll past
>>>> from one to the other.
>>>>
>>>> Winter of 1984-85
>>>> was a cold one.
>>>> Just the mention of those digits
>>>> take me back
>>>> in fascination
>>>> on that dark infatuation
>>>> of that era.
>>>>
>>>> Visions of boots
>>>> stomping in the mud
>>>> the belt was moving fast
>>>> moving like it should.
>>>>
>>>> I registered
>>>> and poured a coffee
>>>> punched a code on the buttons
>>>> on that heavy green machine.
>>>>
>>>> First minutes of the year 1985
>>>> and we saw Tom Snelling
>>>> swung in a Judo move
>>>> by a Denny's waitress.
>>>>
>>>> The girl indeed knew her moves
>>>> Tom on the carpet
>>>> we all laughed with kudos
>>>> and took a booth
>>>> in the Smoking Section.
>>>>
>>>> Later back at the Mill
>>>> as the hours passed
>>>> slowly on a graveyard shift
>>>> to keep the mechanism moving.
>>>>
>>>> Fascination or discovery
>>>> everything was ordered.
>>>> Then I left
>>>> and took the future with me.
>>>>
>>>> -Will Dockery 1977/2019
>
>>> Excellent work, keep them coming.
>
>> Thanks again for reading and commenting, Ilya.
>
>
> Agreed..... good read....

Thanks again for the nod, my friends.

😏