Boat Shed
Scent of timber in the sun, where summer basks or runs beneath a trailer
laden with off-cuts from a tree newly felled. A floor of shavings. One, two . . . swallows fly to their nest in
the eaves, curls of wood in their beaks. Three, four . . . grandchildren’s feet trail sawdust outside the open door,
past shelves sagging with planks of wood. Feel the inch-long teeth of a circular saw blade, sharp at the tips. It
once spat chips, now lies neglected on the bench.
tumbled rumpus
through a sneaky peep-hole
in the barred window
two youths spy on the old man
splitting logs with an axe
Copyright © 2008 Patricia Prime
About the poet.