MINIMUM WAGES

I worked six months in the 

bowels of a factory over fifty 

years ago, and the noise is still 

inside the tiny bones of my ear.

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

The machine was two tons of 

twelve-foot, cast-iron, capital“G”

The piston at the top

slammed the steel ribbon

into perfect parts and dropped

them into a barrel between the

operator's knees.

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

I never knew his name, but

he had been there thirty years.

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

I was in another room, separated

from there by two concrete walls.

At night, while I waited for sleep

I could still hear…

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

till I’d go to the window,

lean out to see if the sound was

real and traveled the five miles

to my bed. It did not. But I heard it

anyway. I wonder if, fifty years later

that old man’s bones still echo…

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

Inside his metal coffin? I never talked

to him so I cannot guess if he is in heaven

ringing a rhythmic bell, or dancing on

red hot coals for disturbing Satan’s peace,

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

KER-CHUNK!

Reviews

[Beccy]

The advance of the machines is often complained about, particularly those automated machines that have taken away so many jobs.

'Tis not the fault of the machines of course, but corporate greed denying the fair sharing of some pretty obscene increases in profits. Better though, in my view, to accept that automation is here to stay, rather than forever live with what for many in the past, was no choice, soul destroying slavery.

I shall go to bed tonight with KER-CHUNK! KER-CHUNK! KER-CHUNK! ringing in my ears.

Beccy.

[Vol]

Beccy,
A fate worse than death! If the purpose of life is the accumulation of money and things, then we are the most successful people in all of history.
If the purpose and meaning of life is the pursuit of happiness, we are, in all of nature, its greatest failures.
Vol

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

thank you for sharing this.
did you attend the funeral?
perhaps you weren't exactly friends, but as a culture, we need to learn to stop and grieve for strangers, espescially when they meet their death in a sudden way.

[Vol]

Ern,
I am sure he died many years after I left working there... except for my memory of him. And now this poem,
Vol

[emmajoygreen]

That noise would have done for me.. even a dripping tap sets me on edge. Yes, I know work has to mess with something, often, hearing.. but noises like that could send a body trembling scalp to soles. Maybe the the guy splayed that noise, thunder, hell.. was already deaf. Maybe his life depended on that noise, maybe he was paid danger money, insurance paid. But poor guy, how and why would he contend with such work, such noise. Did anyone ever ask him? That is quite a story, guess the guy has your words as his memorial. Should have.

[Vol]

Em, You know, I have no memory of any ear protection... sixty years ago, people thought differently, I guess, and I only swa him off his stool a very few times when they had to change the dies, the barrel, or the spool of steel... Funny story, I was getting married to Barbara, and the newpaper announcement named me Dr. Lindsey... One of the factory girls, confronted me, so I told her I was doing a study on the culture of human relationships in manufacturing plants... everyone treated me differently after that... I never did set the record straight...
Vol

[emmajoygreen]

You little devil, you! Is that somewhat naughty when only said with a friend's view of your thinking, sir! Of course could have said, how devious, imaginative or part truth! :)

[Vol]

"Eh, what's up Doc."

[emmajoygreen]

You have an answer or saying for everything, don't you!

[Vol]

No, my dear, as before, I don't have an answer for everything, in fact, there are several things I don't know...
Vol ;-)

[emmajoygreen]

LAUGHING - not asking what! You do know that my previous response was a tease, I hope.

[Vol]

Oh, my goodness! Sweetheart, one of these days you know you can trust me... I used to sell insurance door to door! You couldn't offend me if you puked on my shoes and laughed about it.
Chuckle in beauty... and get some damn sleep!
Vol

[emmajoygreen]

OHH, do wish I hadn't come to see who had written the above!!! Going.. laughing because I would ensure I apologised!

[Marie]

The repetition of factory work is a killer especially when it is accompanied by noisy machines. I can only imagine with no industrial headphones back then, the damage it did to the operator's hearing. You captured the extent of the damage superbly in this flawlessly inked write, Vol. Thank you for sharing...

[Vol]

Marie,
It was as real an experience as I need in that corner of human existence... I was young.
Vol

[Marie]

Thank you, dear Vol... Bless you always...

[Lorry]

Now that's tinnitus with a capital G!
I was gonna ask what the capital G machine made, but was apprehensive that it might turn out to be a mechanism for a part for a GONNNNGGGGGG!
And here was me thinking just normal tinnitus was annoying, like having a whistling kettle at your ear all the time.
I bet he hated that sound more than any other sound.
I really wish someone would shut that kettle off though! 😃

[Vol]

Lorry,
Oh, man... He was a great example for my lazy students... I'd tell the story... then when I would walk around and find one not working, I'd bend behind their ear and hollar, KER-CHUNK! KER-CHUNK! KER-CHUNK! If they fell asleep, I'd drink their Coke first.
Vol