Lifting a girl's skirt to check the colour of her stocking tops
was a joke that soon wore thin,
though one that did not fail to delight.

Rows of Smith Drums clicked, clacked, on timers,
clockwise, anti-clockwise,
Dye-liquor pouring through the stainless-steel perforations,
impregnating nylon at controlled temperatures,
50, 55, 60, 65 C
to maintain a welt/body balance.