1Earthling

People planned from year to year.
Believed the road ahead was clear.
What was enough not long ago
now didn’t open up that door.

The line kept moving quietly,
and no one saw its pace.
Same towns, same halls, same working lives,
but they all didn't stay the same.

Dad worked in the Main Roads Office.
Same desk through the years.
People talked of jobs for life.
It seemed that’s how it was.

Most left after year ten.
Found their place and settled in.
Nobody talked much about
life after school was done.

Then the notice boards went up.
Year twelve now for office work.
Decisions now had to be made
to be more than assistant clerk.

Some stayed on two more years.
Some just left, took what came.
Nobody called it good or bad.
Something just quietly changed.

People planned from year to year.
Believed the road ahead was clear.
What was enough not long ago
now didn’t open up that door.

The line kept moving quietly,
and no one saw its pace.
Same towns, same halls, same working lives,
but they all didn't stay the same.

Maintenance workers in sheds.
Trains shunting in the yard.
Crews ready the engines
before heading for the lines.

Railway office, main depot,
the center of the hive.
Weekly hours marked and totaled.
Mental arithmetic was just fine.

Pay packets counted out by hand.
Worker numbers stamped in red.
One man counted, one checked through.
The money then placed in tins.

Each face, it had a number,
and all their faces we did know.
Fatty Vautin's dad was 5 2 8,
standing there in line.

People planned from year to year.
Believed the road ahead was clear.
What was enough not long ago
now didn’t open up that door.

The line kept moving quietly,
and no one saw its pace.
Same towns, same halls, same working lives,
but they all didn't stay the same.