August Loamed

(poem 6.)


August Loam


On the deck
in that blazing
loamy August 
overlooking an
acre of precious
plantings
each placed by
the hands in 
your cotton
bath-robed lap
the stone pond 
gurgling
" they think
you are not trying"

words in
the 
air, hot, pined
a flash -
twin lightning
for an instant
there in your eyes
clear
"are they off 
their minds - 
if I could do 
anything to live
I would"


quiet returned
a welcomed cool tide
on the deck
in that blazing
August moment
the stone pond
gurgling 
as you would not


three days hence
lying inside- 
a king reposed
on fine  Egyptian 
cotton
blinding white
and cool
your heart beat
clear and strong 
three last times through
my flattened palms 
on your bared chest
counting one-two-three
and then
ready or not 
still
the blazing
August sun
set
just like that