The sun grows unforgiving

Punishing the ground

Baking the wildflowers

Into shards

A sepia world

Grown two-toned in its fire

Where shrubs hide themselves in sand

Indiscernible

And the earth shifts

To burning hues

Umbers and siennas and pale golds

The blooms of February long forgotten

As we force spring indoors

While the air outside burns our lungs

Waiting for days

That will arrive like a balm

And soothe the cool moonlight

In comforting skies – Caroline A. Slee