Open Poetry #9 |
Inferno Summer (revised version) |
Mona Lisa Member
since 1999-08-25
Posts 100Halifax, Nova Scotia |
The sultry heat has made istelf known to all who celebrate summer Relief from it is scarce, and breezes don't exist The record books will declare this one a winner, and farmer's almanacs will relish in their accuracy And I've guzzled water by the half dozen cups per hour, and now sit bloated and potbellied under the tree, longing for a shade while in childish oblivion, the neighbourhood youngins' flutter about I watch with undeterred interest at the girls twirling rope marathon and the little guys riding their bikes a la tour de cul-de-sac No solar swelter cannot undo these innocuous beings as they are conquerers in this battle of the inferno sun Suddenly, a pigtaled l'il miss decends near toting a sheepish grin "Play jump rope with us", comes the sound from her lips, and I hear her more than I see her, so severe is the glare from the sky Since I am appalled at the heat, I shrink away from this childish invite "Not in this heat!" I say, as I wipe my sweatladen brow. "Not a chance!" "But it is fun," urges the child "the heat can't catch you when you jump a rope, jumping makes you to fast for the sun to catch you." I take time to ponder these "silly" pearls of wisdom To my knowledge any degree of hotness likes to grab you by the throat and choke the breath from you Right then, I feel a grip tightening around my neck Then back from my mental excursion, and with no chance of yea or nay, I am in the street, hurdling the candied rope and it's convex swing I am their novelty act, like a new Christmas toy, generous in it's temporal glee Even the lads have ceased their "vrooming", careening their cycles at the curb to gaze in delirious mirth at my spontaneity Finally, I can take no more of this leapfest I am too old for skipping songs and jump ropes We swap goodbyes, the children resume their play, and the fleeting fame of my sideshow is soon forgotten And since my strength has run its course, I stumble away and back to my chair under the the tree I cannot outwit the rage of summer as these youngsters can, I cannot abide this battle of the inferno sun I chuckle in spite of myself knowing I am not fast enough for the sun not to catch me [This message has been edited by Mona Lisa (edited 09-13-2000).] |
||
© Copyright 2000 Mona Lisa - All Rights Reserved | |||
suthern
since 1999-07-29
Posts 20723Louisiana |
This is delightful!!! |
||
Mona Lisa Member
since 1999-08-25
Posts 100Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Thanks you Suthern. I'm glad you like it. I had fun reminicing about my childhood while writing this poem. [This message has been edited by Mona Lisa (edited 09-13-2000).] |
||
poutprincess Senior Member
since 2000-07-06
Posts 735Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
oh this is lovely! i do enjoy stories of childhood, even if the heat was stifling! ~Dawn "Steady as it comes, right down to you, I've said it all, so maybe we're a Bliss of another kind" Bliss-Tori Amos |
||
Mona Lisa Member
since 1999-08-25
Posts 100Halifax, Nova Scotia |
Thank you so much poutprincess. I'm glad you liked it. |
||
⇧ top of page ⇧ | ||
All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. |