s-poem31

                 
                                             
Scatterings                            
                                                
                                                 
                                                   
 Wells Mfg. Corp. Plastics Department               
                                                       
                                              
Angels  demons  fireflies                              
beige 'n' grey-black dust of plastics                      
                                                     
thin air-hosed flash                                  
 a butterfly on a tank-top                      
 a medal on a breast                      
 a mole on a nose                                 
                                          
small oblong preforms                           
 stacked together                                  
 on their sides                                       
 a black aurora                              
                                              
rotor bodies                                 
distributor caps                          
tumbling jacks & switches                
coil heads                           
                                              
boxes  barrels  slip carts                       
gloves  armbands                                    
scoops  inserts  trays                                    
                                              
the heat of ovens &  grinding presses                     
August days over 90                              
sweat                                         
                                          
stock handler                          
or preform maker                         
or press operator                      
or set-up man                                
                                       
in the patterns of your work                 
you weave in pools                           
of something to eat  to drink                          
of bullshit  hassling  anger                  
of serious talk                        
of rest  of dreams                      
                                        
for yourself  for others                      
as you want  need to  can                  
you mold your  muscles and mind           
producing satisfaction                    
                                           
and someone listens to crickets                 
someone feels a cool breeze after dark               
someone jumps from ragweed entering a window     
someone balks at the taste of heat & dust           
someone  breathes love                        
                                               
the foreman                                
worries                                 
                    smiles                          
                                                    
                                         
                   Labor Day, 1973         
                                                 
                                                
                                              
 (from First Pick - selected poems by Alden St. Cloud, 1982)
                                                          
                                                 
                                                
sm002                                       
                              
post 1008