Waiting for rain that hasn’t come. Above the passing cumulus clouds, a prop plane. The gentlest tremble of maple leaves in a breeze too light to stir the wind chime.

Mira reads. Frankie, too—or he’s sneaking more TV. Inside. In the air-conditioning. While we sweat on the deck to enjoy the unofficial last day of summer.

The calm before the storm.

grasshopper songs
under the apple tree
yellowing leaves

first published in Image Curve, December 19, 2019