
“Old Sawmill” by Giorgio De Michele
blades of industry
edged with cut notches
the serrate of
terrible teeth
taught to tear out
dimensions of uniform
lumber from unlovely logs
timber felled to feed
screams of the sawmill
great riots of motion
tanned leather belt drives
turned through gearworks
by stout wood pole pistons
arranged autodidact
design rustic genius
resolved to convert
flowing water to energy
sees the mechanics of
magic in circular visions
the wheel the big wheel
it all starts with the wheel
never ending so long
as the impulse to build
pushes man to a purpose
From my book Small Noise