summer’s calling card
the summer heat comes in on a breeze to
worry a tall eucalyptus, rustling her leaves
and teasing off the last vestiges of bark
the fragments twirl as they fall
in slow motion to the ground
to lie like scattered pieces of a puzzle
a peacock pokes his head around
the naked trunk before emerging
in full iridescent splendor
and with a sudden flapping leap
lands atop a black iron fence
a princely perch!
he eyeballs the hen below
but her eyes are focused on the chicks
scurrying in and out of her shadow
06/19/16