Industrial Waste



Is there a substance
that as a result of continuously applied force
becomes so hardened
so as to become no longer malleable..?
immovable..?

Lately, i’m feeling
much like that substance
Becoming tired of being forced
for no good point

Becoming weary of being pushed
into a grotesque shape
not of my choosing
Toward directions
i care not to go in

And you can find this stuf anywhere
it’s everywhere
Leftover human slag
over-hammered
beat down by the establishment

You might call it
white trash metal
Or inner city old grey steel
50 gallon drum fireplace
ghetto hubcap with no wheel

Left with worth
less than a tin cup
Used humanity
used up!

Beware waste artisans
it’s waste recycle time
It’s become too late
the purged waste you’ve created
Returns and rises from the ashes
to make you suffocated.

RB — 5/02

About this poem

A protest poem.. for the downtrodden.. about those who trod upon them...

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Submitted by oldoccpu on June 04, 2021

Modified on March 05, 2023

42 sec read
1,012

Quick analysis:

Scheme AXXBB CAXX XXCDX EEXXX XBFXF XGXG DXXXXX X
Closest metre Iambic trimeter
Characters 782
Words 141
Stanzas 8
Stanza Lengths 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4, 6, 1

Will Martin

Writing and reading poetry for over 50 years. 2 chap books/vanity presses sold or given away. The 2nd book has original pencil art to accompany each poem. more…

All Will Martin poems | Will Martin Books

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Discuss the poem "Industrial Waste" with the community...

8 Comments
  • dougb.21370
    Tossed and turned human slag. Petrified. Hardly worth picking up, kicking down the street. Whatever. Yeah but it represents my ennui, adjustment, strain.Yeah, so what. Buck up Pilgrim. What have you done for me today? 
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • teril
    This is such a strong poem. So many of the images stay with me: "leftover human slag" "used humanity" - Well done!
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • TEJIKOBI
    Excellent
    LikeReply1 year ago
  • Dougla$Irishman
    What a masterpiece of beautiful junk ! I am 87 and my body is heading for the garbage heap. But I get to keep my mind intact and so I think on to write another old poem ! Bravo to all my poets in waiting ! 
    LikeReply 22 years ago
  • Soulwriter
    Well written, in my humble opinion. Thanks for sharing your work with us.
    LikeReply 12 years ago
  • alexandreabailey1
    Lovely and relatable. Made me feel less alone in this jail we share
    LikeReply 12 years ago
  • Lanny877
    Wow… what an image this evokes.
    LikeReply 32 years ago
    • johnd.34622
      Thank you. And there is a piece of pencil art that goes with it in my chap book. It's a hand holding an open heart locket, with the fingers of the 2nd hand gently touching the faded photo within.
      LikeReply 22 years ago
  • cherylkoomoa
    Very moving and boldly emotive
    LikeReply 32 years ago

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"Industrial Waste" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/101862/industrial-waste>.

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