On a night like this - Ruth Arnison
Laughter scuttles and shuffles across the streets.
Tooting horns, softly muted arguments,
orchestrate the night.
Evening shadows from blinded windows descend
onto the street. This night air soothing words,
cooling tempers.
By the dry focal fountain teens hip hop, rap tap, chew,
spit'n nudge. Laces coolly undone, gold and silver
lying loosely along collar bones.
Ash flicking glances over shoulders, nonchalant poses
held as perfume floating air announces the arrival
of the evening's reason.
• Ruth Arnison is a Dunedin poet.
