Gears grind,
shafts spin,
belts hum across iron beams.
Hammers strike,
rivets fly,
sparks leap in arcs of fire.
Men climb ladders,
hands grease wheels,
faces streaked with sweat and soot.
Steam bellows,
pistons push,
steam whistles cut through the roar.
Conveyors carry steel plates,
presses fold metal,
wheels rotate with unerring rhythm.
Hands, eyes, arms,
machines and men,
a city of labor built in motion.
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Author:
Matthew R. Callies (
Offline) - Published: February 24th, 2026 08:12
- Comment from author about the poem: This poem is about the early film Westinghouse Works,1904
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 3
- In collections: Cinephile\'s Checklist.
Offline)
Comments2
Matthew, what works here is the structure. Gears, hammers, steam, conveyors…each stanza feels like another camera angle. Then you widen it to “machines and men, / a city of labor built in motion.” It honors the machinery without losing the human presence. Clean and cinematic. Well done!🌹🖤🙏🕯️🐦⬛
Such a portrayal of industry both in mechanical and personal images. Very nicely worded my friend
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