It was about that time when

he knew it was about

the time.

Waves of heat wrapped

themselves around the throat

of a late morning.

He stretches out his arm to

catch some summer, letting the

hot breezes twist through his fingers.

Sometimes hearts rattle like

the car door that, offered

enough reprieve from the summer

heat, shuts itself outright in annoyance.

Distance, like an angry hornet,

intent on its aggressive intrusion

pushes against an unyielding window.

But, given the panic level, he relents

and opens up again to the outside

where it too was vulnerable,

like prey.

And once more

a day’s penumbral gifts,

restless like the dandelion fields

become like they were before –

and he starts the car.