What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?

6:45 The factory hooter sounds (17 seconds)

Heard for miles.
Viscount Bolingbroke at Lydiard Millicent
Once complained that it disturbed nesting pheasants,
Not caring that it was a call for workers
In surrounding villages to earn their daily bread.

 

Here:

Time to snuggle under blankets.
Dreamily listening to the day begin.
Time to spare.

There:

Boilermakers, carpenters, smiths,
fitters and turners get ready.
While wives brew tea, make toast and sandwiches.
Time to hurry.

Here:

Time for my weather forecast.
Was the hooter loud? – rain.
Was the hooter ragged? – windy.
Can I hear shunting,
Express train whistles doppler through the station?

There:

Streams of bikes become rivers.
Pedestrians, Woodbine dangling,
All make their way.
Hurrying to keep the wolf from the door.

 

What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?

 

7:20 The factory hooter sounds (12 seconds)

Here:

Time to rise.
Frost on the window.
“Have you washed behind your ears?”
Bicker with my sister by the kitchen stove.
Toast and dripping a Monday breakfast.

There:

Time to hurry.
From North, South, East and West.
From Highworth and Wootton Basset,
By workers' train.
Stratton, Old Town, Rodbourne, Gorse Hill,
By bike and foot.

Here:

Torment my sister -,
“Old Town for money,
New Town for wit,
Gorse Hill for swearing,
Rodbourne for s**t”

 

What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?

7:25 The factory hooter sounds (7 seconds)

Here:

Mum tells of Hooty.
Who could imitate the Hooter,
Ironically, fired for lateness.
Became a rag and bone man,
Exchanging paper windmills for jam jars.
Celebrated in postcards.

There:

Through the gate, down the tunnel, head for the shops.
A, B, C, D, E …
Erectors, Boilermakers, Painters, Machine and Wheel, Tenders, Concentration Yard, Carpenters, Masons, Electrical.
F, G, H, J, K …
Smiths, Chainmakers, Millwrights, Pattern makers, Foundries, Coppersmiths.
On through the alphabet to
X Points and crossings, Z Transport.
To get your pay check on the hook.
Don’t get on the wrong side of the foreman!

 

What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?

7:30 The factory hooter sounds (12 seconds)

Here:

Relax in the warmth of the kitchen,
An hour before school.

There:

Late by a minute – lose a quarter.
Late by 15 – lose a half.

 

What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?

Railway time!