TERMINAL LABOUR

Murderous pipe

Snaking though mountains

Rips the century in two.

Calamity stitches, salt

Rituals, mollifying dances

Distract hippie protesters.

Ransack a few days off.

Sour fists, sweet mouths,

Boner in the rain.

He recalls her glass tears,

Tongue of flint

Silent in the station

Shrewd in the bar.

Dunce fat depleted,

Husk nearly ready

For the casket,

He works with her

To remove obstructions,

Excavate a trench,

Contour the land.