Not Much Time

Mail boat hydro-planes along the coast
Carrying a single letter
Tiny island shore
Sits idle
For now

Clouds gather
Sky darkens
Dolphins cease jumping
Flotsam hugs wet sands
Yellow dry newspaper headlines
Remain like a large bleached leaf
Entangled in yolk of ancient driftwood antlers
"Manned Spacecraft Lands On Mars"

Single palm shades pre war colonial house
Island's sole resident

Threadbare cargo-shorts
Held up by aged leather tool belt
Hang limply on thin carved hips
Artist looks skyward
Pulls welding helmet down
Eyes peer through ocean spotted lens
Solar paneled energy
Sparks welding torch
Final stringer bead
Hot pass
Filler pass
Cover pass
Complete

Artist raises head upwards as
2 story lightning bolt
secured in buried concrete pedestal
Casts shadow
Even as its reflection
Disappears into impending weather
Stepping backward off platform
Artist lifts helmet
Assesses

It is good
Pointing eastward
Like a rocket ready for count down
The artist's passion readies its imaginary launch

Yet

There is menace riding the wind
Tragedy waiting

Hover-craft arrives
Mini-hover comes ashore
Robotic arm delivers letter
Artist sits
Stares at envelope

The sea suddenly sounds weary
Seagull lands on sculpture
Lifts one leg
Holds
Drops his white calling card
Remains nervous
Flies away

Artist smiles
Pet giant tortoise lumbers up
Settles beside Artist
Head peeks
Retreats
Waits
From pocket
Artist pulls treat
Lays in front  of shell
Pauses

Glances back at envelope
Embossed letter head
Fathoms Deep Collider Project

Opens
Reads
Utters notice
"Tsunami Alert - Testing to begin on  September 23rd"

Looks over at turtle
Up at sculpture
Out to sea
"3 months---not much time"

Mail boat passes other side of island
Makes no stop
Only an ancient church stands on shore
Robotic camera digitizes weathered tombstones huddling close
They too seem to be trembling