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 

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