Spiking the Line by DS Maolalai

the rain is gentle as dandelion seeds

but around me

umbrellas still snap

like the wings of birds in flight. mist:

weather settling

as old furniture settles,

sinking as trees sink,

and mossy branches,

dipping their leaves

in water. I walk

with rain on my face

and everything a beautiful

grey, sky grey, trees pale grey, the roofs of each house

on the street a slate grey, peaking

against a light grey sky, running ahead

and on and endlessly, perspective running into itself,

spiking the line. as if the street

were one long sawblade,

the houses teeth;

the sky

fresh timber

waiting

and expecting

to be cut.

DS Maolalai has been nominated for Best of the Web and twice for the Pushcart Prize. His poetry has been released in two collections, "Love is Breaking Plates in the Garden" (Encircle Press, 2016) and "Sad Havoc Among the Birds" (Turas Press, 2019).