a barometer

mounted at the turn of the west landing, where the corridor narrows and the air decides which floor it belongs to. the needle has been resting between change and rain for as long as anyone living has thought to look.

its drum is brass; its dial is hand-painted on a thin disc of bone. tap the glass and the needle answers, slowly, the way an old dog turns toward a name it half recognises.

field-note · 999 mb · falling slow. the rain has not arrived yet but the door-frames are tightening.

storm · wind · weather report · anemometer · observatory