A groaning din of broken-down machines, Still labor from a century of abuse, While time relentlessly disrupts and schemes To overtake with age their further use; The memories locked within that shoddy shack, The meal, the flour, conditioned by the ton, Would fill up many volumes back to back With farmers' fortunes and misfortunes run; The modern mill that grew to take its place Now overshadows such an ancient one; With fresh efficiency the new mill race Redoubles all the work that's to be done; Through years of hardship, labouring for gain, A tombstone landmark is the brief remain. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...LITTLE BELL by THOMAS WESTWOOD VARIATIONS ON A THEME by ALFRED GOLDSWORTHY BAILEY THE VIGIL OF JOSEPH by ELSA BARKER TO THE MEMORY OF MY DEAR DAUGHTER IN LAW by ANNE BRADSTREET WHITMAN'S RIDE FOR OREGON by HEZEKIAH BUTTERWORTH |