Hedged In

A dog was howling at no moon, but while a bright and sultry day sent every creature scurrying for shade. The cat who came to drink from the bowl I keep on my back porch did not linger, but returned stepping quickly to the green and woody place beyond the fence. A blue jay emerged to screech at him, but soon gave up and vanished among oak leaves.

The blue is faintly hazed, as though in sympathy with my heat-struck mind. I put a book aside then pick it back up then put it aside. Rather better on such a day to surrender to the temptation to doze, and in some half dream find respite in cool images summoned from some other May less stunned by relentless heat.

( Sunday Verse )