Monday, 3 August 2026

the keystones and the weigh-bridge

 the keystones and the weigh-bridge 


the top tips

slag stones ebony black

jagged and shining 

clinking in the sunshine 

on this sunday morning 


the lads ~ boys really

rocks in hands take aim

the aim being an avalanche 

if only the keystone could be found

and dislodged in the laughter game


ping after ping

a piece of slag moves

perceptively imperceptive the effect

in the time-honoured way of these things

the end draws nearer

and the rate of impacts grows steadily 


until 


an avalanche is graded on the slope of expectation 

and another keystone is identified as far better


perhaps after a stroll along the dusty roads

that the lorries populate all week

taking the hardcore away for 

the foundation of roads

the load being weighed on the weigh-bridge 

that we can jelly gate under the combined weight

of half a dozen slag rascals in unison


the scissor-arm crane is shuttered up

it’s caterpillar tracks forged of immobility 

the grease of dreams drives us to speculate


but it’s getting late

as we cascade home to demolish our dinners

and to plan another escapade

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