In my usually quiet street, I awake to

drilling, pounding, earth cracking,

rocks tossed, crashing to the ground,

loose soil slides, pebbles crunch

underneath toe capped boots,

workman yelling, truck engines roar,

earth scraper-scraping along the

dry earth, cement mixer turning, grunting,

slurping mixture splashed onto the ground,

heavy steam roller, shuddering, a squishing

sound of cement being flattened onto

the new built road and footpath.