With the gentle stroke of the paddle
A lone canoe glided on the mirror-like lake
Through the morning mist…
During the tedious torture of that hot summer
At morning’s break, the sun standing at a distance
Glared in yellow mango over the parched earth…
The blue sky seemed burnt ablaze like liquid gold
Casting image reflections onto the cool waters
The intense heat almost unendurable…
The tedious torture of that hot summer
Bore down unrelentlessly with a vengeance
While the shrill voice of nature awoke…
In the distance the plaintiff call of an unseen loon
Transported us into the wilderness
Plying the waters along the forest of ancient cedars…
On the shore they went through the shrubbery and
Down a walk bordered with myriad of colorful field flowers
There the birds sang a chorus of welcome…
A cooing pair of ring-doves slept in the honeysuckle
And a whippoorwill had settled in a giant cedar
Sending forth its morning message…
Suddenly a silent gloomy stillness filled the air
And a light breeze sprang from the blue depths
Of the lake dispensing cool comfort…
But a sharp shivering rain began to fall
The rising wind sobbed and wailed mournfully
Surrounding a rustic cabin where they took refuge…
And across the silent, gloomy stillness
Thunderous rain fell on the earth
And poured out its anger on the agonized heat…
Giving the prematurely darkened day,
Night before its time
Drawing sultry July to an end.
