The Pool

The shadows hide around corners and sneak under doors
The mere idea of light scares them off.
They slither away as fast as they came

With the sunset, the heat does not stray.
It crawls into our very pores and curls up, sucking out all moisture and life.
Motivation
to do anything
vanishes as quick as the dew
Glinting,
Flashing, for a moment and then gone.
It is pushed away with the idea of cold lemonade and heat-heavy dreams

The air is so dry it nearly scratches our throats out.
Each molecule is laden with heat and the night settles
heavy as a wool blanket,
but not nearly as comforting.

We wish we could pant,
like the dog lying spread-eagle in that rare patch of shade
because sweating is not enough.
Sweating does not save us from this heat.  It seems to make it worse.

The only relief would be
a crisp
clear
swan dive
into the deep end of the pool

Where you disappear,
safe and saved,
cool
and cold
and refreshed,
a speck at the bottom of the pool.  

A Picnic Long Forgotten

Paper plates and plastic forks,
Seeds shot from empty teeth.
Smell of sulfur,
Burning lights,
Distant thunder,
Endless nights.

Words all mixed together,
Laugh until it hurts,
Fly so fast dear summer,
Bring back that lovely fun.

Bring back the stars that shine this bright
Bring back the gleaming sun,
Bring back my heart, my dreams, my dear,
We all need you here.

Only So Much Happy

Like the wind through the trees she ran
Like the bird song on the breeze she sang
Like the sunset she smiled
But for what?
Like a saint she gave
She was the new Robin Hood,
the new Peter Pan.
But for what?
Her life was a mess,
her home a war zone
But she woke up and painted on her mask,
buried under her sparkling smile
and singing voice
but for what?
For who?
Why smile when all you have is hurt?
Why run to when from is so much better?
She had no one to smile for,
no one to trade secrets with,
no one but the trees.
The trees and the river and the birds were there,
always,
but never enough.
It gets a little hard when they never talk back.
There's is only so much happy one can have
when none is reciprocated.