Intermission

Intermission by Neil McCall

after the soft rain
the hopeful owl perked up
for beetles burgeoning
in the dripping olive groves

after the soft rain
the moped riders slowed
for the wet curve glistening
beyond the bright villas

after the soft rain
a man climbed the tree
for lemons – the dark trunk planting
damp evidence on his trousers

after the second bottle
you slithered on the patio
bare feet plashing in puddles
now shrinking in the hard sunlight