Afternoon

a kiss of sunlight
caught in the underside of
a cardinal’s wing
–
young rabbits-
wild strawberries
hidden in the grass

out with the mistress-
his rose garden wilting in
the seething sun
–
my delicate rose-
thorns buried
in my skin

the sea my old friend
greets me with crushed oyster shells
rough beneath my feet
–
driftwood-
seagulls loiter
above the surf

such oppressive heat-
my sleeping cat slowly drips
from his windowsill
–
shimmering sand-
false promises
in the distance

gathering pollen-
down among the lavender
the honeybees work
–
august sun-
on the pond
the lotus blooms

catenary wires-
sparks fly overhead as trains
roll along below
–
rolling fog-
the warning whistle
of an approaching train

a secluded beach
the plundered pirate’s chest lay
empty save the sand
–
flood tide-
sandpipers
brave the surf

a beer in my hand
cut grass drying on the lawn
as the clouds pass by
–
muted laughter-
steaks sear
over glowing coals

glints of green and gold
hummingbirds in the neighbor’s
honeysuckle vine
–
lilacs-
delicious
in the wind

afternoon hours spent
talking laundry off the line
ahead of the rain
–
the laundromat-
hard plastic chairs
and ennui