These Quiet Summers -

these quiet summers

growing up, I remember mine

all-day baseball, hide and seek,

chasing butterflies in fields

loud, active, running and more

running under an all-day sun

but here that same sun

mute’s midday voices

its torrid heat ripples off beige

dunes, sidewalks and streets

everything saves breath for

breathing, suffering is

the soundless struggle

though under a full moon

some may come out and

sigh into the night wind

including me