Re: Long Long Time / Will Dockery

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....