Path: news.eternal-september.org!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.quux.org!news.nk.ca!rocksolid2!i2pn2.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail 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 Organization: novaBBS Message-ID: References: <57debb14-76cf-4533-9c6b-a93ebf125457n@googlegroups.com> <11d8530753cd201ba4fc3518ac9216b9@news.novabbs.com> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Injection-Info: i2pn2.org; logging-data="3998648"; mail-complaints-to="usenet@i2pn2.org"; posting-account="Vf9CM7g99yqfGvzEHTw0bhrjcIfvzYBBhUuRma0rLuQ"; User-Agent: Rocksolid Light X-Rslight-Site: $2y$10$1RH5S8dOEoAnUm9/k18Sve5zaCwO4MvTkhLkUNT0pJQmAsvX/UdTO X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 4.0.0 X-Rslight-Posting-User: acd0b3e3614eaa6f47211734e4cbca3bfd42bebc 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. 😏