The Southern Pacific Railroad built a depot
in the weary hamlet of Malaga,
Eight minutes south of Fresno by rail.
Train depot, post office,
general-store, dirt streets, tiny houses
and 125 residents.
Old Pedro opened the shop at 5:30, fired up
the gas jet to start work promptly
at 6:30 every morning six-days-a-week,
the Toledo No. 666 5-ton drop-forge
at Cartwright’s Blacksmith Shop
pounded molten steel in rapid succession,
red-hot carbon steel coil springs
from the auto wrecking-yards,
gas-fired, in a bellowed-forge
burning 2246 degrees,
edging and fullering the blades
for Malaga Maid bypass pruning shears.
The entire village was shaken from sleep,
the new day had begun.