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....