Summer

ripples from skipped stones-
a startled box turtle slips
beneath the surface
–
sudden silence-
dragonflies rest
on dimpled water

passing sun showers-
warm rains tease my garden
with false promises
–
grey soil
peppered brown-
scattered rain

searing hot asphalt-
children splash in the water
from a cracked hydrant
–
heavy branches-
in the shade
a rope swing

a laboring fan-
august heat makes fonder my
memories of snow
–
summer sun-
my verdant lawn
sere and brown

chocolate ice cream
slowly melting in the heat
of the summer sun
–
amber skies-
an ice cream truck
around the corner

clumps of garden weeds-
the summer sun warms my back
and eases my mind
–
a golden breeze-
the wind caught
in her hair

an old swimming hole-
piles of clothes left abandoned
on the grassy shore
–
a frayed rope swing-
old memories
bittersweet

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

faded cutoff shorts
bare feet out the car window
hair teased by the wind
–
hot skin
cool sheets
and promises

Draped on an elm bough
Branches dapple the sunlight
That warms up my cat