September
September is hot in California
Days of sunshine burning shoulders
Of those needing to be outside
Metal doorknobs scorching hands as we scramble in the house.
Where is an oven mitt when it’s needed?
Construction workers, delivery persons, gardeners
Begin work at dawn to start in cooler light
Sweating under hats that don’t prevent sweat
From rolling down the backs of shirts
September is hot in California
A delivery truck is stocked with a dozen bottles of frozen water
That the driver will replenish by noon
Roofers keep their ice chest full of water and Gatorade
Waiting in the shade for thirsty lips
Co-workers keep an eye out for one another for signs of heat exhaustion
Boy it is hot on the roof!
September is hot in California
Back-to-school sales and pumpkin lattes claiming the arrival of autumn.
Thermometers and calendars remind us that summer continues
Schools keep children in for recess lest
A child fall from the jungle gym while experiencing sun stroke
Or third degree burns while kicking a ball.
Senior citizens crowd into “cooling centers” at the community center or library
Feigning an interest in playing cards while
Secretly worried about the price of electricity during a heat wave.
California is hot in September
My Dear One
You bring focus to all that is
Important
In a hurried and rushed world
I slow down for you.
Your thoughts are important
As you share
With halted speech and slurred words
You speak with your eyes
I lay everything aside to listen to your
Wisdom.
In my busy world I see
That you are a dancer, an athlete, a singer,
A bicyclist, an artist, a techie
One who smiles with your whole body
Because your joy can not be contained
On your face alone.
I hear your song!
Indeed, you are joy in every movement!
In the midst of what others see as limitations
You bring wholeness to my life
And in seeing your gifts, my own brokenness begins to find peace.
We bring healing to one another.
You teach me that the purpose of life is to love.
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