light falls
on fallen rain
with no rain
falling. that feeling after rain
at night
as you walk on the quays – everything
the salt light
of lamps
going softer. the lights from cars
thrust out
and absorbed
by a glistening ground.
and shop windows, sharpness
and relief. colours;
the roundness
of wet colours. walking
with your hands in your pockets
and your headphones in,
your scarf wrapped tightly.
everything around
just a dull thumping.
like someone throwing stones
at a laundry line.
the world
brought out of focus;
into focus.
the pavement
soaking things up;
the smell
of drying rain.
wet silence
gone to ground.
DS Maolalai has been nominated four times for Best of the Net and three times 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).