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# Production Line Sonnet
- URL: https://www.tom-shaw.uk/production-line-sonnet/
- Published: 2024-05-06T08:01:30.000Z
- Updated: 2024-05-06T08:01:30.000Z
- Description: A Poem By Tom Shaw
- Author: Tom Shaw
- Tags: Poems, #substack, #substack-type-newsletter, #substack-access-everyone, #Import 2026-10-24 12:50

![grayscale photo of a restaurant](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1583737097468-2cc78bea3c29?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=M3wzMDAzMzh8MHwxfHNlYXJjaHwzN3x8cHJvZHVjdGlvbiUyMGxpbmV8ZW58MHx8fHwxNzE0NDE5MjYwfDA&ixlib=rb-4.0.3&q=80&w=1080)

Photo by [Birmingham Museums Trust](true) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?ref=tom-shaw.uk)

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when publishedChurn them out and turn them in  
for we need to sell en-masse.  
Weld their joints and sand the points,  
bring out lustre from the brass.  
Tighter tension in the springs  
keeps them rigid - keeps them fit  
for the work they're destined for,  
and so that our target's hit.  
Once the people fit the mould,  
excess trimmed and engineered  
to crave anything we may make,  
then our profit margin's cleared.  
Turn them in and churn them out!  
Turn them in and churn them out!

###### Production Line Sonnet - A Poem by Tom Shaw

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*Music:* [*ROZKOL - I Can Make The Pieces Fit*](https://freemusicarchive.org/music/ROZKOL/machine-masochist/i-can-make-the-pieces-fit/?ref=tom-shaw.uk)

---

I originally wrote this poem as part of NaPoWriMo, which [Tara Connor](https://open.substack.com/users/23318635) brought to Substack. This version is slightly tweaked to ensure the meter is consistent throughout the poem - just like the products of a factory line. It also found itself a home in my book “From A Dying Empire Near You”, which you can get below.

[From A Dying Empire Near You](https://tom-shaw.uk/from-a-dying-empire-near-you/?ref=tom-shaw.uk)

Feel free to use the image version of the poem below to share this piece on social media, or [get it as a framed print from my shop](https://tom-shaw.uk/product/production-line-sonnet-high-quality-framed-print/?ref=tom-shaw.uk):

![](https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a14ac55a4f27472c5d894ec1c3c743d2/substack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com/public/images/90daf652-f991-4997-8924-69a698ae6c89_2400x3000.png)

Thank you for taking the time to read this piece. I hope it sparked something within you.

With gratitude,  
Tom

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![](https://cdn.mymidnight.blog/a14ac55a4f27472c5d894ec1c3c743d2/substack-post-media-s3-amazonaws-com/public/images/38cb9dda-4264-4a53-8160-9694aa24d586_640x640.jpg)

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