Mechanical Principles

For Ross and his fellow HNC Second Year Students at Worcester College of Technology (circa 2003/4). This was my introduction to mechanical engineering.

Give me a moment of your time
And learn how to build bridges.
Pour concrete liquid through this rhyme,
And distribute uniform ridges.

And if we can, we fix a lever
If not, we hog or sag.
A bridge well built can last for ever,
Thus did Kingdom Brunel brag.

Did cast iron, bricks and Irish hands
Turn moments by wise clocks?
The effort of their labour stands
So barges glide through ancient locks.

Westminster, Golden Bridge et al
Will grace us still in years to come.
Our hope is not a brick will fall,
No shearing in the mid-day sun.

These treasures from our past will last;
Our hope for future projects lie
In hands and minds of youthful class,
So bridges, with relief, can sigh.