Mrs O’Brien stood
at the office hatch
of the factory
as Naaman approached
he stood there
gazing at her
how long
were you on that job?
she asked
about 6 inches
he said
looking at her
standing there
with dyed brown hair
and glasses
making her eyes
look larger
seriously I mean
in time how long?
she said
about 2 hours
he replied
about?
she said
I need accurate time
I am doing a time
and motion study
he looked at her
non plus
1 hour and 45 minutes
and 45 seconds
he said
trying to see himself
in the glass
of her spectacles
trying to gauge
how old she was
seeing the crowfeet
at the corner
of her eyes
she sighed
accurately?
yes
he said
she looked at him
as if he were her son
and had spoken
out of turn
any problems
Mrs O'Brien?
the manager asked
no Mr Nede
she said
giving Naaman the eye
just a bit of confusion
with Naaman here
about timing
she said
it was how long
Naaman?
Naaman took out
a piece of paper
from the pocket
of his jeans
and handed it to her
she read it
and scribbled it down
in a notebook
thank you Naaman
she said
giving the look
of a mother at a child
who had been punished
anything at any time
Naaman said
winking an eye
she looked at him frowning
as if a small window
had opened in her mind
and let in light
she walked away
from the hatch
carrying the notebook
and Naaman watched her
studying her
swaying behind
the patterned skirt
the dark brown stockings
the high heeled shoes
she sat at her desk
and saw him
still there at the hatch
anything else Naaman?
she asked
if you like
he said quietly
what is it
I can do for you?
pleasure
he said
and walked off
along the factory floor
between noisy machines
and the other workers
wondering how well
she'd pleasure
if at all or
even if he'd
want to
and switched on
his machine again
with more work to do.
Oct 26, 2013
Oct 26, 2013 at 1:39 AM UTC
Mrs O’Brien stood
at the office hatch
of the factory
as Naaman approached
he stood there
gazing at her
how long
were you on that job?
she asked
about 6 inches
he said
looking at her
standing there
with dyed brown hair
and glasses
making her eyes
look larger
seriously I mean
in time how long?
she said
about 2 hours
he replied
about?
she said
I need accurate time
I am doing a time
and motion study
he looked at her
non plus
1 hour and 45 minutes
and 45 seconds
he said
trying to see himself
in the glass
of her spectacles
trying to gauge
how old she was
seeing the crowfeet
at the corner
of her eyes
she sighed
accurately?
yes
he said
she looked at him
as if he were her son
and had spoken
out of turn
any problems
Mrs O'Brien?
the manager asked
no Mr Nede
she said
giving Naaman the eye
just a bit of confusion
with Naaman here
about timing
she said
it was how long
Naaman?
Naaman took out
a piece of paper
from the pocket
of his jeans
and handed it to her
she read it
and scribbled it down
in a notebook
thank you Naaman
she said
giving the look
of a mother at a child
who had been punished
anything at any time
Naaman said
winking an eye
she looked at him frowning
as if a small window
had opened in her mind
and let in light
she walked away
from the hatch
carrying the notebook
and Naaman watched her
studying her
swaying behind
the patterned skirt
the dark brown stockings
the high heeled shoes
she sat at her desk
and saw him
still there at the hatch
anything else Naaman?
she asked
if you like
he said quietly
what is it
I can do for you?
pleasure
he said
and walked off
along the factory floor
between noisy machines
and the other workers
wondering how well
she'd pleasure
if at all or
even if he'd
want to
and switched on
his machine again
with more work to do.
Set in a factory in 1968.
Request permission to use this poem