Working at Night

Mills at Night in Lawrence, MA
by MaryBeth Gagnon Traynor

Nightworker’s Dreams
by
Henry Boulanger

To be working in the open air
With the nice cool breeze, so fair,
To some it is no heaven, it seems;
But only a nightworker’s dreams.
The songs of the birds in merry tunes,
Instead of the ear-piercing thundering looms.
Under the sun to toil and to fight,
Instead of slaving under blinking light.

A Change of Outlook (A Response to Henry Boulanger)
by
Faith Flaherty

To be working inside the warm room
Away from the night’s black gloom,
To me that’s no heaven, it’s  purgatory:
A perspective on a different story.
The terror of a dark night’s screams,
Instead of the loom’s rhythmic reams
Singing the satisfaction of a job done right,
Instead of working outside in the cold night.