The Trouble With Sandstone
There’s a fair bit around here;
down a few feet and clank, they hit stone.
Out come the power-tools. Mick is good
when there’s drilling to be done.
In the confined space the noise shatters
every thought into rough red dust.
He claims to be an artist at work
and those that see him, shoulder-deep
in earth and stone, are sure of it.
After weeks of wet weather, they often
find water pooling that cannot drain.
They set a pump going to clear it.
Today the damn thing failed, four inches
of brown water slopped Mick’s ankles.
They had to trim the lower branches
from nearby firs with their power-saws,
then piece by piece, criss-cross them
till the water was out of sight. Anyone,
looking in, would only see a soft green bed.
They were late finishing. It began to pour.
The trouble with sandstone was
it gave them one hell of a thirst.
They humped drill and pump and saws
back to the van. Mick’s mate said
It felt like bloody Palm Sunday here today.
They laughed, then noticed the long black cars,
the dark risen umbrellas, the straight-backed men,
the only colour, the flowers they carried.
Page(s) 56
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