WORK TO DO.

A YOUNG MAN AT A FACTORY AND THE OFFICE WOMAN IN 1968

Mrs O’Brien stood

at the office hatch

of the factory

as Naaman approached

he stood there

gazing at her

how long

were you on that job?

she asked

about 6 inches

he said

looking at her

standing there

with dyed brown hair

and glasses

making her eyes

look larger

seriously I mean

in time how long?

she said

about 2 hours

he replied

about?

she said

I need accurate time

I am doing a time

and motion study

he looked at her

non plus

1 hour and 45 minutes

and 45 seconds

he said

trying to see himself

in the glass

of her spectacles

trying to gauge

how old she was

seeing the crowfeet

at the corner

of her eyes

she sighed

accurately?

yes

he said

she looked at him

as if he were her son

and had spoken

out of turn

any problems

Mrs O'Brien?

the manager asked

no Mr Nede

she said

giving Naaman the eye

just a bit of confusion

with Naaman here

about timing

she said

it was how long

Naaman?

Naaman took out

a piece of paper

from the pocket

of his jeans

and handed it to her

she read it

and scribbled it down

in a notebook

thank you Naaman

she said

giving the look

of a mother at a child

who had been punished

anything at any time

Naaman said

winking an eye

she looked at him frowning

as if a small window

had opened in her mind

and let in light

she walked away

from the hatch

carrying the notebook

and Naaman watched her

studying her

swaying behind

the patterned skirt

the dark brown stockings

the high heeled shoes

she sat at her desk

and saw him

still there at the hatch

anything else Naaman?

she asked

if you like

he said quietly

what is it

I can do for you?

pleasure

he said

and walked off

along the factory floor

between noisy machines

and the other workers

wondering how well

she'd pleasure

if at all or

even if he'd

want to

and switched on

his machine again

with more work to do.

Mrs O’Brien stood

at the office hatch

of the factory

as Naaman approached

he stood there

gazing at her

how long

were you on that job?

she asked

about 6 inches

he said

looking at her

standing there

with dyed brown hair

and glasses

making her eyes

look larger

seriously I mean

in time how long?

she said

about 2 hours

he replied

about?

she said

I need accurate time

I am doing a time

and motion study

he looked at her

non plus

1 hour and 45 minutes

and 45 seconds

he said

trying to see himself

in the glass

of her spectacles

trying to gauge

how old she was

seeing the crowfeet

at the corner

of her eyes

she sighed

accurately?

yes

he said

she looked at him

as if he were her son

and had spoken

out of turn

any problems

Mrs O'Brien?

the manager asked

no Mr Nede

she said

giving Naaman the eye

just a bit of confusion

with Naaman here

about timing

she said

it was how long

Naaman?

Naaman took out

a piece of paper

from the pocket

of his jeans

and handed it to her

she read it

and scribbled it down

in a notebook

thank you Naaman

she said

giving the look

of a mother at a child

who had been punished

anything at any time

Naaman said

winking an eye

she looked at him frowning

as if a small window

had opened in her mind

and let in light

she walked away

from the hatch

carrying the notebook

and Naaman watched her

studying her

swaying behind

the patterned skirt

the dark brown stockings

the high heeled shoes

she sat at her desk

and saw him

still there at the hatch

anything else Naaman?

she asked

if you like

he said quietly

what is it

I can do for you?

pleasure

he said

and walked off

along the factory floor

between noisy machines

and the other workers

wondering how well

she'd pleasure

if at all or

even if he'd

want to

and switched on

his machine again

with more work to do.

Reviews

[Baban.A.A]

well sir this was very interesting to read a story in verse than prose, which served a very amazing twist to the poem. I prefered the conversation between them which gave me a sense of tseeing the scene clearly without comprehension. all in all I very much liked it and best luck to you. Baban

[Terry Collett]

Thank you,Baban