Close Call

[Glen Hughes]

57 - Close Call

Wear out, not rust out,
was told to me in jest
give it all you’ve got mate
cause every day’s a test.
Call it as you see it
be careful don’t delay,
days are either won or lost
stay safe along the way.

Water in the outback
essential to the land,
early drilling, lift and drop,
wells were dug by hand.
Windmills fitted over holes
to suck, lift and pump,
delivering water miles away
to tanks troughs and sumps.

Repairs to a water pump
over the top of a well
not to be taken lightly
requires a lot of skill.
Block and tackle, cable
a suitable 4x4
patience, trust, commitment,
a job for two or more.

Timbers placed for standing
bridge the top of the hole
100 feet to the water,
to slip was out of control.
Pipe and rods are lifted,
20 feet at a time
lock off, unscrew the collar,
the process just sublime.

The last pipe finally lifted,
the pump in-view unscrew,
replace the buckets and clacker,
the pump repaired as new.
On the way down it happened
the block and tackle failed,
knocked me hat off me head
and down the hole it sailed.

Time and place, just lucky,
how was we to know,
tackle had hung 100 years
wasn’t my time to go.
An early minute called,
stepped off and walked away,
we’ll fix it in the morning
tomorrow’s another day

Wear out, not rust out,
was told to me in jest
give it all you’ve got mate
cause every day’s a test.
Call it as you see it
be careful don’t delay,
days are either won or lost
stay safe along the way.

Glen Hughes ©
27/5/22