Old Welder

time is an outlaw that silently steals

what you do not miss until later

how I wish for the time before the time

before this

when sparks flew unconstrained

by convention

when shouts and language

‘was what it was’ - whatever

who could dare

 to challenge it anyway or give a damn

how poor and desperate we were

we were full up to here and couldn’t take any more

who stole the time

when clothes and convention could be 

dirty or wrinkled because they could never

be who you were inside

no they could never

make someone look up to you

without reason

who stole the time

when you could look down at your own two hands

dirty and creased before you unashamed

in fact proud because those hands told you

and you knew

that you had done a good days work

Clinker - March 7, 1995