Thursday 31 July 2014

JUTE MILL TURN OF THE CENTURY





DUNDEE JUTE MILL
TURN OF THE CENTURY
Hugh McMillan


They stand crucified by loom ribs and spindles,
these hemp women made from shadow,
with their skull heads doubled over machines
that worked, but not for them.
They present their misery unabashed,
unwilling to hide it,
unable to conjure, for a shutter second, smiles.


In the foreground there is a youth.
He is small
(The nearest women are bending to his height)
but there is more than a hint of swagger
in the watch chain,
the slightly bending knee,
the hand laid proprietorially on a spool of cloth.
He is a golden boy:
he shines even in this glory of sepia.


It is the way the world is:
and you know the women will die
near the looms,
their certainties the more enduring,
and that the boy’s chest will be torn
by machine guns,
all the puff and pride blown to smoke forever.
He will not live to see the skeleton of his mill
or hear the women, weeping still.


 

Description: Pinned to a wooden facing board on the Verdant Works Building.
Geotag co-ords: 56.461812, -2.983704
Date: 30.07.14 


Wednesday 2 July 2014

MARY SHELLEY ON BROUGHTY FERRY BEACH


MARY SHELLEY ON BROUGHTY FERRY BEACH
Robert Crawford


One small boat tugs the enormous corpse inshore
Towards waiting locals. A lad opens up its mouth
And wades inside, clutching a flensing tool
For blubber. Piece by hacked off piece


Men deconstruct the outcast zeppelin body,
Carting lumps back to beachfront cottages -
Sturdy food and good oil for the winter.
Harpoons glint in the candlelight.


Safe home, the men of Broughty Ferry take
Their sweet uncorseted wifes to bed, or croon
Shanties to bairns beside toys made of teeth.
The Tay flows quiet. Dundee’s lights wink their yellow.


A sad girl walks from the beach, carefully picking
Her steps as she sneaks past a leftover eye
Flung on the sand, and other small last bits
Of monster littering the promenade.




Description: Pinned to a long wooden beam at the foot of a fence beside the Dundee Sailing Club building. A suitably gothic mansion can be seen on the rise in the background.
Geotag co-ords: 56.468369, -2.899381
Date: 1.07.14