In honour of a recently departed transformer that served its community well beyond its years, I wrote this poem as a tribute, not just to the one we lost, but to all the unsung heroes of our electrical networks.
These silent workhorses are critical to moving electricity efficiently from generation to where it’s needed. As we push towards Net Zero, the need for timely refurbishment and renewal of our infrastructure is not just practical, it’s essential.
Here is Ode to a Faithful Transformer:
‘Ode to a Faithful Transformer’
O steadfast giant of copper and steel,
Who hummed through decades with tireless zeal,
Within your coils did power flow,
A silent servant none would know.
—
You stood not tall, nor sought acclaim,
Yet bore the grid’s relentless flame.
From station born to substation fed,
You bridged the living and the dead,
Of current vast, of voltage high,
Beneath the earth and open sky.
—
To Heathrow’s hum, you lent your grace,
A quiet force in a frantic place.
Each flickered light, each soaring plane,
Owed something small to your unseen strain.
Through storm and surge, heat and rain,
You did your duty, naught to gain.
—
Though years piled on and wires wore thin,
Still we asked more, again, again.
No rest, no gold watch at the end,
Just a fuse, a spark, and then, my friend,
A plume of smoke, a grounded cry,
The airport paused, and asked: “But why?”
—
They forget, these marvels old and grey,
Can only bend so far, then fray.
For every network’s beating heart,
Is made of parts that must restart.
To reach our future, clean and bright,
We must renew what gives us light.
—
Refurbish, rebuild, and then restore,
So no old friend need give yet more.
For transformers guide the power’s course,
From mighty plant to humble source
Reducing loss, ensuring grace,
To light each home, each work, each place.
—
O transformer, take your bow,
You served your time, and served it well.
In lessons learned, we speak your name,
To build a better grid, your flame.
Rest now, steel soul, in stories told
A hero quiet, brave, and bold.
While You Are Here…
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