The Job

The Job

A Poem by Keith
"

Just another day at work!

"

A tribute to our Heros,

The Heros Walk of Fame,

At every yard along that path,

A sporting hero's name

You enter through a golden gate,

What an awesome sight!

Dawn Fraser sculptured on the left,

John Newcombe on the right.

 

Trevor's Concrete Co awarded

The paving contract prize.

The Prime Minister set herself

As the one to supervise.

She said “At stake our national pride,

This job cannot be late,

And most important to be sure,

You watch that bloody gate”.

 

It was early in the morning

On a chilly Melbourne Day,

Two miles of paving to pour, 

Most would say, “No Way!”.

The sound of “The concrete is Here!”,

Came ringing through the mist,

Half  finished cups of coffee tossed,

“Bugger” Bretty hissed.

 

That annoying beep beep beep,

Of the reversing truck,

Interrupted as it shunted,

Through some slimy muck.

There were multiple attempts

With an awful lot of revving,

But oh, the look on Trevor’s face, 

Showed he was far from heaven.

 

Things were getting really tense,

Darcy’s glasses now all fogged,

“Oh Heck!”  he cried a sorry note

“The bloody truck is bogged!”.

The sound of Trevor’s silence,

Was ringing in their ears,

The crew stood stiff in terror,

This was the sum of all their fears.

 

They expected that first concrete truck

To quickly come and go,

Now it seemed they had three more, 

All waiting in a row.

One hundred yards from truck to job,

The boys began to wheel,

Barrowing  up that nasty hill,

What a crappy deal?

 

Struggling up that slippery  track,

And through the gate still panting,

They tipped it at the boss’  feet,

You shoulda  heard him ranting.

They were never gunna do it,

The pace was slowing down,

By now the boys were thinking

Of clearing outa town.

 

Things were looking awfully grim,

It seemed they had no hope,

When the strangest sight appeared

Coming up the slope.

Through the fog such a brilliant light,

With a halo all around.

They were hoping it be the Lord,

To ascend them from the ground.

 

It was indeed salvation,

But not in holy way,

It was Maxy on the Bobcat,

About to save the day.

Max the youngest of Trevor's sons

He was only ten years old,

He drove machines before he walked,

He was brave, courageous and bold.

 

Trevor a non believer shouted,

“It won’t fit through that gate!”

As there was no time to explain,

The boss would have to wait.

With a bucket full of concrete

Max steered it through the mush,

Then charging at that golden gate

It was happening in a rush.

 

A pale Trevor gasped in horror,

This would be his ruin,

But Max was cool as a cucumber,

He knew what he was doing.

But the bucket it was six feet wide,

The opening a little less,

It was pretty clear that all did fear

An awfully expensive mess.

 

Maxy lifted up that bucket

To its maximum extent.

The  bloody gate was higher,

And  about to get bent.

But our hero had it covered,

A mono he did pop,

On back wheels only up it went,

Another clear inch,  right over the top.

 

The Bobcat wheels were not as wide,

As the widest part,

Max with nerves of steel,

And a great big heart.

All day Max showed his talent,

He drove it with such flare,

Each time he snudged it through that gate,

A mere half inch to spare.

 

All the concrete on that job

Carted by Max that day,

They actually went home early,

Had McDonalds on the way.

At home they walked in through the door

And Linda said “How did ya go?”.

All that Trevor had to say was,

“Yeah, ….so so.”

 

Around the family barbeques’s,

Tall stories of the past.

But the tale how Maxy saved  that job, 

Seems to last and last.

Exaggeration helps with time

Each version more incredible,

For all those present on that day,

 The memory indelible.

 

The time has passed, so many years on

Trevor  just rocks his chair,

He doesn't respond and you would think,

There’s nothing left up there.

But news of the Hero's Walk of Fame,

Brings out a heavy sigh,

He actually gets excited,

And there’s a twinkle in his eye.

 

 

© 2013 Keith


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Reviews

Keith this is a fantastic piece.. rhyme falls off a bit but who cares. this story had me glued start to finish.. Thank you for an enjoyable morning.. ;)
xoxo Rose

Posted 11 Years Ago


shallimarRose

11 Years Ago

You're welcome Keith.. xo
Keith

11 Years Ago

Actually my first poem, we had to do a talent quest thing for 10 yo Max's birthday. I can't sing .. read more
shallimarRose

11 Years Ago

excellent work.. Did you say First poem? like in first poem ever? omg... fantastic for a first try.... read more
Oh love it Keith! Had me smiling from ear to ear! LOL laughing madly as well. On tenterhooks at Max's antics as he saved the day, like some superhero! He shoulda been on that walk of fame!
A great poem and such fun to read!

Posted 11 Years Ago


Keith

11 Years Ago

Thank you again WW. Please take a peek at the 'Nar Nar Goon Pub' and maybe 'Deadly Encounter' when.. read more
The Best . Good age ten of twelve .This reminded me of a Irish story about a Paddy who built the perfect brick arch into the stable yard. But the horses ears touched at the top and they would balk and back up . So he got up on the ladder with a hammer and chisel busted out two perfect V's so their ears could pass through, leading the horse one behind the other they walked right through their ears never touching.Then One mate just out of the Pub hollered out aaaaaaaaaaaaaah you stupid Paddy couldn't you see ? it was their legs that was too long not their ears.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Keith

11 Years Ago

Ah yes we love those Irish Jokes. Thanks for reading Lee.
Interesting story line.
You give a fine visual to the reader. I can visualize the scene well.
Again a little spastic in form. It just feels like a distraction to the flow of the read.
When I am reading, I want to feel as much as see and understand. I'm not just talking about feeling an emotion here. I speak of feeling connected to the write and the write connected to itself.
I enjoyed the poem very much and I hope you do not think I'm being arbitrarily picky. Just trying to pay back the fine story with any help I may offer.
Be well.

Posted 11 Years Ago


 David Scott

11 Years Ago

I may be way off... Your work is excellent. I do think patterns can be helpful... Art does come in.. read more
Keith

11 Years Ago

I think you mentioned that you follow David Paget's work. His is always a brilliant read, in part d.. read more
 David Scott

11 Years Ago

Yes. He does mix the count up a bit... Still, it should be felt as a song when read. Songs cone in .. read more
wow, this was great..
great rhymes, great story, and great flow

very nice!

Posted 11 Years Ago


Keith

11 Years Ago

Thank you for reading Serenus.
Woah, this was amazing. You're a fantabulous story teller, that's for sure! Keep up the amazing work.

Your imagery and word choice are amazing, always,

~ Noodle.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Keith

11 Years Ago

Thank you again Noodle.
s y e

11 Years Ago

Pleasure.
Family barbeques....Those I do miss. And it is true, the story grows, gets added to, losses it, and sparkles alot. A great poem Keith.

Posted 11 Years Ago


Keith

11 Years Ago

Thank you Infinity appreciated.
a wonderful story! I worked for a John Deere Dealership once. I have a soft spot for heavy equipment and can just imagine what this looked like - a knuckle chewing moment for sure!

Posted 11 Years Ago


Keith

11 Years Ago

Ah yes, they have some amazing equipment and some of the operators do unbelievable things. I have a.. read more
Sarah is right, you weave a good story. this is excellent.

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

quinfinn

11 Years Ago

you are too kind, never give up this gift you have discovered, i expect wondrous things from your pe.. read more
Keith

11 Years Ago

Thanks mate.
quinfinn

11 Years Ago

welcome!
You're a fantastic storyteller, there's really no getting around it. Thanks for sharing!

Posted 11 Years Ago


1 of 1 people found this review constructive.

Keith

11 Years Ago

Thank you Sarah, nice to hear from you again.

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816 Views
16 Reviews
Rating
Added on June 9, 2013
Last Updated on June 11, 2013
Tags: Concrete, Australia, Prime Minister, Bobcat Paving

Author

Keith
Keith

Gippsland, Victoria, Australia



About
I grew up on a diet of Australian bush poetry. Now a business consultant, I spend far too much time on aeroplanes and in hotels, I use this time to write. I like to tell stories and have fun. If y.. more..

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