Heatwave
I have lost count
Lost count of the days
7, 10, 12 or more
Days of heat
With no relief
Days of 32, 34, 36 degrees
Mid to high 90s
In the other money
Days of touching
All things warm
Days of cooling noise
Air conditioned
Air reconditioned
Days of burning
Skin
Gardens
Paddocks
Forest
Bush
Cat’s play half heartedly
Flopping down hot
Creeping off to find dark cool corners
Tempers flare
As temperatures rise
I struggle
Days of aching muscles
Over hot
Pulsing head
Fatigue confusion
Unfocused
I too hide away
Now the nights
20 something
70 something
Not cooling
No cool change
Long awaited
No fresh breeze from seacoast
Wafting curtains
Bringing that gentle sigh of refreshing
Cotton sheets
No longer
Crisp
Cool
Curtains hang
Hot
Heavy
As the air
Sleep is
Not long
Not deep
Not refreshing
Like not sleeping
Breathing hot air
Is like not breathing
I look forward
Weather forecasts
1,2,3, 4 days hence
Relief in sight
I wonder
When struggles get too much
When Living is not like living
When Loving is not like loving
We look ahead
For days of relief
The days in Heaven’s Light
Is it pie in the sky when we die
This forecast of better days
No!
For these golden days
We need not wait
These can be found
Here
Now
In company
With a Father who loves his kids
Who would ease the pain
Ready to listen
On hot nights
In wakeful moments
Ready to walk
On scorching days
When the heart burns
With longing
Ready to offer shade
To the sunburnt soul
His cool cascades
Washing dust and ashes away
His refreshing
Quenching deep thirst
His Love satisfying
Deep and deeper longing
I need to
Look within the dry grass
To see the hidden green
No need to wait
I turn now
Move in closer
Claiming my place in
His Shadow
Beside still waters
There I will I abide
Words and Pictures © Denise Stanford 2013
Within the Vine 