Almanac Poetry: ‘Rain Band Creep’ – Tommy Mallet

 

Rain Band Creep

 

 

The track we’re building has made it to
the coastal cliffs.

 

 

Way below, rain bands creep across the ocean

 

 

towards Jordan and I
on our lunch break.

 

There’s no shelter,
so we just watch.
“It’s like the rain’s lifting to the clouds,” he says.

 

I go back to work early,
shovelling hard,
hoping to get feeling back
into my fingers before everything turns wet.

 

“They’re awesome,” Jordan smiles,
still eating.

 

 

I glance over my shoulder one more time.

 

 

Antarctic winds are pushing sea mists
ahead of the clouds.

 

They rush up the cliffs,
creating a pulsing white wall
that rises past Jordan
filling the grey sky.

 

 

He walks to the edge of a 300 metre drop,
placing his hand into the updraft, as

 

several bands
surge over the ridge,
either side of us,
consuming the bush.

 

 

“Check out this,” he smiles,
forever in love with his job.

 

 

Damn it, I drop tools and go over,
leaning so my face dangles over
the edge.
The vertically rising cloud consumes it,
wetting my eyes, cheeks, mouth,
without touching the back of my head.

 

 

We look at each other and laugh,
as the clouds, now above us, peak
in curling spirals that then
gently descend,
covering the rest of our working week.

 

More from Tommy Mallet can be read HERE

 

 

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Comments

  1. Malby Dangles says

    Beautiful imagery, Tommy.

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