The Dragon

<P> <TABLE id=container cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD> <DIV id=main><IMG style="MARGIN: 4px 4px 4px 8px" alt="Missing image" src="http://allpoetry.com/images/ext/Item/4510/525.jpg?1224448347"> <DIV class="richp itembody" id=content>There’s a faint odor of old money in the marine air<BR>Petroleum, in all of its forms, forever present<BR>One feels a sense of a moderately controlled frenzy<BR>Like a young child’s ant farm with its busy inhabitants<BR><BR>You’re surrounded by towering units cooking the prize<BR>Networks of piping and smoldering stacks, emitting steam<BR>A fence enclosed, teeming land of coveralled citizens<BR>All dedicated to the maintaining of steady flow<BR><BR>Always moving, from the smallest lorry, and the forklift<BR>To the larger, heavily loaded, liquid tanker truck<BR>The train, barge, and tanker ship, arriving and departing<BR>Hauling precious product, to all points upon the planet<BR><BR>Yet, there is a strong sense of Mother Nature that pervades<BR>Present, are assorted trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, and weeds<BR>All sorts of wildlife, deer, porcupines, rabbits, and raccoon<BR>The birds, blue herons, seagulls, ravens, and turkey buzzards<BR><BR>Beneath a blue, cloud specked sky, lies this small peninsula<BR>Surrounded by a pristine salt water of dark cold blue<BR>All thrive within this creature, called an oil refinery<BR>Tube feeding her, through miles of long silver pipeline, daily<BR><BR>All the while, she is guarded and religiously well kept<BR>While being condemned, despised, and grossly misunderstood<BR>By millions, whose very way of life, depends upon her<BR>Such is the life of this flame spewing creature, <I>the dragon</I><BR><BR>©Copyrights G. Jones 2008<BR></DIV> <H2>Author notes</H2> <P class=richp>This is my first impressions of the Puget Sound Refinery, where I have been employed since this summer. I am only substitute teaching&nbsp;occasionally now. I have become totally discusted with the education system in the United States, especially the teacher's unions.&nbsp;A career change was needed. I have been working long hours in order to qualify for my various responsibilities within Homeland Security. &nbsp;I am sorry I haven’t been around lately my fellow poet friends. Thank you all for your kind comments on my poems. ~Peace~Gar </P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>

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Elaine George Date: 12/15/2008 3:19:00 PM It just shows how strong the will to live is. Last summer in the sweltering heat - in the middle of the filthy roads that run through the steel towns in Hamilton; there as I waited for the light to turn green, I saw a sprig of wild honey- suckle growing up through the cracks in the pavement - where a beautiful ruby throated humming bird hovered and drank the sweet nectre. I was high for the rest of the day and I get that same high, when I remember it. So glad to see you back here, Gary. Missed you. Lainie Login to Reply

Vince Suzadail Jr. Date: 11/28/2008 5:46:00 PM Good to see you back. Social services would rather give them a check than an education. This justifies their jobs and existence. Also, the political correctness that has invaded society has helped contribute to the disgust felt by most people whose brains are still active. Good luck on the new career, but I'll bet you'll still have a hankering to teach. It's only the real teachers who are digusted. God Bless. Vince Login to Reply