The poem seems to describe children making a figure out of wet earth, probably a snowman or mud man, though the title "Melting Man" hints that it won't last. The speaker uses "we," so the feeling is shared: small hands working together in the cold, early light. The phrase "ice-dark dawn" makes the scene both chilly and quiet, with a sense of effort and seriousness. These children aren't just playing; they "labour" to mould "our image of a man."
The last line stands alone and changes the tone. Dressing the figure in "our fathers' clothes" suggests the children are copying the adult men they know, trying on what manhood looks like. The word "Modeling" can also mean wearing clothes, so the line plays on imitation. The mood is tender and a little uneasy: there's pride in making something, but also a hint that this borrowed version of a man is fragile and temporary, like the title promises.