Dioramas: Building the Hill Station

2.

Reverberation of hammers
blasting through rock face.
Slag heap and slurry,
as switchbacks 

take shape. From the low-
lands to the last camp, ropes
around their waists, men press 
themselves into the pale 

scar they're gouging out
of the mountains' cheeks.
Shrikes spear the evening
with their cries.