Christopher Allan
The Case for Good Ditches
Someone might have prayed for this
but now it was beyond a joke.
Warm & heavy the rain fell
(his hand probed briefly outside
to gauge the weight & sting of it).
The wipers were full on & frantic;
their sweep only a half-success
in working clear an image
of bonnet, road & bank.
Each April it happens: the fields
cannot contain the deluge &
throw off the five hour pour
& soak to where ditches should lie.
The shhushh of wheels on lanes
marries the ripple & slap of water
against sills, & then cylinders
begin to choke & cough. Last year
he failed to make it &
a passing truck towed him out.
This time luck took him through
but the sky leaned close & dark
as it continued to unload.
The road could now boast a river.
No cars would crawl through this,
at least until tomorrow.
As the light drew less
a pair of mallards circled
the 30 sign like tugs.
Page(s) 142
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