Ralph Hancock
Driving a Cliff-Edge
Parks his truck outside his home.
Long as three houses
glistening chrome,
high as the upstairs
polished paint,
room for three families
dull-grey pebble dash.
Numberless wheels,
a hooded dinosaur,
faces at the windows
outrage next door.
Heaves each child from the street in turn
up into the cab,
two at a time,
one on each strong arm
like driving a cliff-edge -
few of these kids have ever seen.
Sleeping quarters
draw the curtains,
peeping out.
His kids walk tall tomorrow,
showing off tonight,
sleepless, and his wife.
His neighbours witness a total eclipse
of the other side of the street,
measure an earthquake by the crockery
dancing on the shelves,
smashing at their feet
as he revs and eases the brakes with a snuff.
The whole street waves -
no hard feelings.
Page(s) 167
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