Saturday, July 22, 2006

One Hot July Morning
By Don Iannone

White-hot July sun drops beat
like a heavy rain of fire bricks
on the flower garden
nestled along the white picket fence.
Normally spry orange day lilies and passion pink wild roses
droop for cover
as Monsieur Soleil tightens his grip
on all in his path.
The Huck Finn-looking young lad next door
sits bentover, like a limp rag, in the steamy grass
picking his dirty toes in silence.
Even the red-throated hummingbird's wings
are quiet and motionless
sensing the danger of spontaneous combustion
with the slightest movement.
Waves of oppressively hot air
waft into the open kitchen window
crushing my usual desire for morning coffee
or anything short of a freezing-cold lime popsicle.
I think only of standing naked for hours in a cold shower.

14 comments:

Dan said...

Ah!

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Yes, ah is right...Pant...pant...sweat...sweat...

Mike said...

Hi Don,
Great intro right at the first line "White-hot July sun drops" Sun drops ... great choice of words. I can really feel the heat you're describing. One suggestion: In the line "Sweltering waves of oppressively hot air", "sweltering" seems like one too many adjectives. I read that line and feel like it's trying to be a bit too descriptive, when "Waves of oppressively hot air" gets the exact same point across, without telling me how, exactly, to feel the "hot air."

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Mike...thanks. Change made. Good suggestion.

dumbdodi said...

Dear Don

Huck Finn was my biggest chilhdood crush which I haven't yet grown out of. Loved that you mnetioned him. (Blushes...more blushes) :-)

dumbdodi said...

BTW I am missing your comments on my blog..sighs

polona said...

wow! excellent poem, and i think many of us can relate (heat wave in europe, too)

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Hey Dumbdodi and Polona: Thanks. Glad you enjoyed the poem. I will check out your blog today Dumbdodi--sorry I missed it.

Kai said...

very nice....

thanks

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Thanks Kai.

Kathleen said...

Wonderful Don...! I can relate! hmmmm... are you wishing for more rain now?

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Kathleen...we got some tonigt. Sun! Sun! Thanks.

Jim said...

20 degrees hotter than normal this summer in Belgium, I think that is right, hotter here in Dallas too.

Made me hotter. Thanks. lol.

Lookin' for rain.

Don Iannone, D.Div., Ph.D. said...

Hey Jim...we've had plenty of rain here in Cleveland. Trade ya. Belgium? Interesting. It's been several years since I was there. The diamond connection!

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