Poetry

[James]

‘Two Old Industrial Boys‘

Staring down the long road.
He’s talking about Jewelers;
Tucked up in his armpits
muttering along the length of his flat cap.

There’s a gentleman’s pause.
Age giving way to its splendid grace.
Sentences are properly swallowed
and not because the brakes are rusted.

‘Its coming out nice now!’
He realises.
‘I’ll see if I can get it in the car today!’
‘Yes!’ – Mutually overjoyed.

The small gestures I imagine
utterly relieving.
When the body isn’t as well oiled
as their childhood passions.

And the talk of an industrial era,
pulls me vicariously inside that steam engine
he talks so fondly off.

And the words of foreign language
Fabricate.
Mend.
Steel, Iron, Ore.

Two old industrial boys
holding onto the golden secrets.
Lamenting for the many faces,
they once knew.

Shall I speak of similar things?
Of ‘my time.’
When I sit upon well worn stirrups.
Staring longingly into the bottom,
of an empty coffee cup.

Discussion

[Kev]

James.. mate.. I read this a couple weeks ago when you first posted it, and have been wanting to get around to commenting on it.. Upon reading it an additional time, I’m taken aback by how beautifully written this is, and your entirely unique use of language and words to paint a picture and a feeling.. Actually, I’m a bit at a loss for words to help my mind wrap around it.. Cliche words like “deep” wouldn’t do it justice.. And the line about ‘grace’ really caught my attention and struck me.. I think what and how this poem captures is itself an act of grace.. So nice..

And yes, I’m one of them guys that speaks in terms of “back in my day”.. But I don’t say it that way — I’ve been mostly using the phrase “I can remember a time when [fill in the blank]”.. or “I grew up at a time when [fill in the blank]”.. It’s a thing.. Lol.. My favorite line is “I was a kid before the age of the personal computer”, oftentimes adding “things were much much different then”.. Ha!.. I’m gonna make a great old man.. ?

[James]

Hey Kev

Hope you’re well?

And no bother at all! I have been busy myself as of late tending to life’s chores and battling off a strange set of symptoms. I sincerely appreciate you commenting so extensively on my piece of writing. It really means alot from across the pond. The line ‘age finding its splendid grace’ was also pointed out to me by some other internet people so thanks for that.

I have no issue at all with the whole ‘back in my day’ turn of phrase. The soul still lives in the pasts that have passed us by and is nourished by the reminising of times that can only be understood by mutual benefactors. It was joyful to listen to these two old boys pontificate about their time in the trenches. Its important to us all old and young. All of us are mulch.

[Eliza]

I love “back in my day” sentiments…and I appreciate your poem very much. And, hi Bro Kev:) – I hope that you are feeling a bit better James? How frustrating to be going through a healing crisis. Don’t panic! Everything resolves.

[James]

Thank you for your kind words Eliza. And you were right!

[Eliza]

❤??

[Author]

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