Fire to the north now,
And gray clouds to the south;
Sunset to the westward,
And everywhere the drouth
Has scorched the earth already
Ere the lightning’s flash
Can catch and flame the kindling
And burn it twice to ash.
I think the heat has melted all the words
Out of my brain. A few remembered rhymes
From long ago are mustered and–absurd–
They march across at odd and pointless times
And knock their knees together, one might say,
With scarcely sense among them to implore
The sun to wink and look the other way,
Or rain to fall and drown the unheard roar
Of fire upon the mountains–not so far
As one could wish–or bring some blessed cool
On which to rest my head–this endless war
Of heat forgot, which leaves me but a fool.
Now marshall all my words to make a spell
To bring me respite from this summer’s hell.
Way to go- what a pleasure to read- both of them. If you put together a book of your stuff I will buy it and keep it on my bedside table. I don’t have a higher compliment.
The truth of the moment, rendered in absorbing sensory detail -- and meter, and rhyme! Wonderfully honest, well-shaped work - a privilege to read it.