Wall of Rain  

Throw a shoulder
into the wall of rain

This is your child
no stroller
no Fisher Price
no clothes
only the dry dust
of the long road
this is your child
in a length of cloth
across your chest

Throw a shoulder
into the wall of rain
Forge a shivered trail
in sorrow's side

This is your child
after the drought
after the soldiers
after the slow march
and the guns
they are all gone
all but these feet
on the red road
all but this
small weight
across your chest

Lean
lean
into the wailing wall of rain

This is your child
there are no other children
she breathes
in the cloth
for she cannot sleep
she breathes
in the cloth
her legs dangling
she breathes
past eating
past caring
this is your child
and there are no other children

Throw a shoulder
into the wall of rain
Roar you forward
with oars of arms
That cut a stillness
through the storm

This is your child
she holds you in her fists
shivering in the cloth
shivering in the searing heat
still breathing

This is a tide
without a bank
flaying stucco hail
and dry dry thunder
A rain of earth
that never meets the ground

© 2006 Gordon McRae