The engine house

the engine house it stands deserted
the stack is toppled
the smoke has vanished
but its industry is not diminished

the smell of grease and oil pervade
the monsters of a bygone age
the dragons hiss of steam
a beast that toiled that drama now recalled

the barrister looked on appalled
his time also time had spoiled
the needles quiver on the pressure gauge
his boiler pipes the governor rings

what was the message carried here
had he undermined them so
nose to the wheel the cogs must turn
a head of steam under a stove pipe hat

the lift gates close the drum wheel spins
the cage drops fast the G force wins
dark passage thats in front of him
the narrow gauge rails glinting dim

the gavel falls like a hammer blow
point of order the now the chambers
dark with walls half timbered
dirty secrets lies the working brief

pneumatic hammer at the face
the ore the truth the slag the waste
blow the seam light the fuse
get your teeth into the case

the clock moves on a coffee break
silence to each workplace