A Poem A Day 24

Summer Heat

Bring the pets inside.  Water

them and the garden – soak it. 

It’s life or death, now.  The lawn

crackles underfoot.  Screenshots

on social media compare numbers

in the 40’s.  In the car I fan myself

in front of blasting aircon; I’m

one of the Bee Gees, so addicted

to the cold breeze!  The freezer

ice drawer becomes a revolving

door.  Is that bush smoke, in the

air?  There’s danger, somewhere

that wind is hot!  Tasks are left

half, or un-done – this heat saps

everyone.  Neighbours, in the evening

linger outside, trying to cool.  If only

we had a pool!  Voices drift across

patios and fences. Can’t sleep at night,

clothes thrown off – not even sheets. 

Windows open, begging for relief, but

the air is listless and heavy. Forecasts

stretch like heat haze into forever.

Kerry Miller

A Poem A Day 12

The day

The day we escaped the heat,

tossed our responsible plans

and down the coast found beaches,

shimmering, the ocean still;

a sparkling pond.  We gazed from

acacia shade, then plunged, swam

in depths, so transparent our

shadows were far below and

we, suspended In  joyful

revelation of blue-green 

clarity

And after the clouds came, and

the beach emptied, still the sea

spread out like dappled glass, soft

grey light reflected, merging

Sea and sky together and

I walked out and swam in clouds

And floated in the 

horizon.

Kerry Miller

A Poem A Day 3.

End of the Affair.

Today I am cleaning,

although it is too hot

for such exertion.

Leaning in the humid air

over steaming suds

I wipe my brow

of sweat, and the crusted

refrigerator shelves

of sticky substances

long overdue.

The air is sultry

and thunder rumbles in the distance.

A change is coming.

In the laundry

I wash his smell

From last night’s linen

The refrigerator gleams.

A feeble breeze stirs the washing,

And I wait for rain.

Kerry Miller