Mikaela Nyman was born in Finland but these days is a Wellington prose writer and mother of baby twins. More recently she has discovered the challenges of poetry. She has had a short story published in Lumiére Arts Reader and poetry in 4th Floor. Previously she has had a biography, newspaper articles and research on civil society and democratisation published
Steeldrum Shelter
Monsoon clouds dripdrop
on steel drums stacked on the wharf.
Rust-rimmed sores ooze petrol
to be lit by a match
the first mate in the patched trousers
will strike when he detects
a dogsized rat,
except it’s no rodent
– it’s Ramos and his barefoot
brigades, one breath
before fireworks light up
what’s left on his wharf.
