Summer in the Day

Sweat, breathe, sweat, breathe

ax falls, sweat drips, sun laughes.

Moon flowing over the river

dusting reeds and moss in silver

beckoning winter to come.

Sun laughes and sings sizzling sky

all while spying the axe flashing up

and then chunking down

clunk.

Sweat drips, breathe pants, muscles weep.

Moon zeniths kissing all the trees.

Wind snakes along the river

tossing boughs rattling dead wood

and stripping withered leaves

and sweeping them into midnight.

Sweat, breathe, sweat breathe

ax falls making the cut

counting the seconds

till winter calls for

the flying snow.