Summer blazes on
day after sun-ruled day,
Night’s sweet release
comes late

We start to wait
for the wind-chime heralded
south breeze,
to signal change,
to signal rain

For years we wished for this,
A summer we could count on.
We can’t complain —
Every day is splendid
and their still are places
we can hide from heat

And the city haze,
though it accumulates,
has mostly blown away,
Our slightly sun-stressed
crop of gratitude
still sturdy.

©Wendy Mulhern
August 1, 2014