Learning on the job

Humour

Nearly sixty years ago I loved the black humour that the skilled maintenance fitters used on their apprentices. Never forgotten!

 

 

 

image from Tech Team Products website

 

Please click on the arrow button above to hear this poem

 

 

After months of continual and heavy use
the pulp drier needed major repair.
Deep in the bowels of the massive cylinder
the apprentice was in his element,
liquid metal and sparks flying everywhere
as his oxy-acetylene cutter melted the holding bolts.
Sudden darkness — the flame had failed.
Turning to the distant hatch he shouted
“I haven’t got a light, Tom” — a pause
then the old fitter languidly suggested
“Get one off your trousers boy”
as  flames started to creep up his leg.

 

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