It was a dark smoke filled night, not a single star in sight
No hint of a moon, just matt black gloom
With a blade grinders sparks in flight.
Not much brightened up that coal-black night.
Save a dim oil lamp, all smeared by the rampant damp
Seeping from a brick lined arch, like a liquid starch,
drips down from the welling sluices ramp.
But we kept on working with our limbs in cramp.
Fed a devil’s brew that swirled, fetid vapours curled,
How could we judge, the nature of this acrid sludge.
We just did the paid work as we were told,
So ignorant were we to poison, this our precious world.
A McTiernan
IT'S ONLY OF LATE AS I SIT HERE ALONE
AND REFLECT ON THE PASSAGE OF TIME
THAT I FEEL THE AGING OF FLESH ON THE BONE
THE GREYING OF HAIR AS A SIGN
OF A DAY THAT IS LONG AND NOW NEARLY O'ER
OF A NIGHT JUST ABOUT TO BEGIN
OF THE WORKING IN MAN OF GOD'S HOLY LAW
AND A TIME FOR THE PAYING OF SIN
WILL FOOT NE'R AGAIN SQUELCH SOFT ON WET GRASS
NOR TEETH ON RIPE APPLE TO BITE
SHALL I NEVER AGAIN DRINK BEER FROM A GLASS
WENDING SLOW ON MY WAY FEELING TIGHT.
AND WHAT OF THE FRIENDS TO LEAVE BEHIND
THE ONES I'VE MET ON THE WAY
I WONDER WELL DO YOU THINK THEY'LL MIND
DO YOU THINK THEY'LL HAVE OUGHT TO SAY
NOW FEAR BESETS THIS ONE PROUD HEART
AND ICE IN THE MARROW I FEEL
AT LAST SO IT SEEMS THE TIME COMES TO PART
TIRED SOUL FROM THIS BODY TO STEAL
DIMENSION 1965
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