— Millicent Kellogg
Heat …… Heat
Nothing moves …. too stiff with heat
Leaves hold their breath,
afraid to lose a drop of damp
Thickened air slows sounds of cattle
conversing on the hill –
the faucet drips in pantomime
The sky hovers on the tree top, and
ground comes up to meet it,
wringing the between like a rag
Shade is sparse, grudgingly shared, and
overrated for comfort, but the assembly of sheep
move in unison around the tree
Shafts of radiation parch the fronds
fallen from Palm trees, they lie scattered
like bleached ribs of dinosaurs
The sun tucks behind the horizon. but the moon
rises in matched cadence, its softer orange
promises another hot day;
______________________________________
Rain …… Rain ….. First Rain
First smells of pungent earth
first dust free day
first frowning sky
Wet leaves lie flat in dirt
wet cat streaks for the bed
brittle grass softens and leans
Water drops pat my outstretched tongue
clean white dots appear on woolly backs
air becomes hinged again, trees sway
Clouds tumble over cliff and canyon
lightning splits the sky in three while
thunder bellows with laughter
Lambs skid to a halt in surprise, then run
for cover, complaining loudly about the
interruption of their play
Underground seeds stir
unborn flowers whisper to each other
what colors they will wear this spring
First rain ….. first rain …….
the earth is going to make it
for another year
What masterful use of imagery, Millicent! Not only are the images gorgeous and vivid, but they carry the main sentiments of the poem, the harshness of heat and the hope that rain brings. This is beautiful!