Turbulence
The Beaufort Scale
is the scale of the windforce low
on ebb and flow, the sail is the monarch’s wings
which sings, on a flower – the ‘Early Cheer’
that is here, on the coast, on a southerly, sunny
honeyed day
The Beaufort Scale
is the scale of the windforce mild
the child nails a plank on an outdoor vice
twice, he hammers the flighty piece, an elongated
painted wood, with coloured flecks, flying specks
scattering wide
The Beaufort Scale
is the scale of the windforce moderate
‘Clobber it!’ They call to a boy with a bat, and a ball on a breezy
beach, he sends it sleek, on an arc over sand sand-whipped skeins, gliding
over silica slivers, salt salt-crusted rivulets, to a sea
glistening
The Beaufort Scale
is the scale of the windforce strong
throngs of surfers are kites skimming on waves, sinking
dreadlocks drinking, the resonant rush and booming swells
blustery, gusty white horses
spike
The Beaufort Scale
is the scale of the windforce gale
kale chips fly, across an alfresco cafe table, a soaring
skater passes by, a woman waiting, stopped, with her watch, to catch a
match in cupped calm, on a balm of divergence, her eyes a
stormy gamut.
Tia Ysolde (Waitaha, Kāti Mamoe, Kāi Tahu) is a mother and Whitireia student from the South Island. Tia is an emerging writer and is currently writing her first novel. Favourite foods: Millefoglie, blueberry dark chocolate, eggs Benedict, peaches. Least favourite: lychees.