THE PROCESS STOPPED

Here's a poem that describes a chemical plant shut down. It's a slice of my past, back in the 70s I worked as a tradesman in a chemical plant. Once a year the plant was shut down, it was a continuous process and some maintenance could not be undertaken while the plant was working.

SHUT DOWN

For the first time in a year

the process stopped

All was silent and the process men

got on with what had been put off

We were given our schedules

and took up our tools to repair and overhaul plant

Fourteen hour days or more

obligatory overtime for everyone

Within the designated time period

it was completed and slowly brought back on line

While we looked for leaks

and the inevitable mistakes of tired men

I have never heard a sounds like that before or since

like some great beast coming back from sleep

Process men ran the plant but during the shut down they were at a loose end. I am not sure what I will do with this poem. I think the drawer beckons.

Here's Laura Gibson. 

Until next time.