on the roadside
ferns bowing burnished copper
gold and wheaten, blaze
searing brilliantly
under the callous unforgiving sunshine
gutters are richly peppered with
myriad golden needles,
a pristine carpet regally spread
across the narrow lanes
parched fields never shone
so brightly, shimmering, metallic
bristling in the oven of August
a grilled torpidity cloaks the land
heavy smothering choking
an invisible grip, murderous
encamped on the horizon
silently biding time
a war is brewing
horage erupts to deluge
to take the shine
from this brilliant summer
*
© Graham R Sherwood 08/22
grahamrichardsherwood.co.uk 