Boys of Summer

Sun burnishing the earth

its brilliance

saturating the air

with sultry stillness

except for the crickets in chorus.

Pockets of breathable air

where you couldn't find them

until you were right inside.

Even the flies had

fled from the fever.

Distant fence lines
shimmering through waves
snaking across the prairies.
Power and telephone lines
buzzing tales of 
all the neighbors' secrets.

You and I tracking gophers
and other unsuspecting rodents
squirting water down their front doors
thinking weren't we smart.
Poking through the reeds
for frogs and other
hapless slimy creatures.

Stripped to our shorts

plunging through murky surface   

algae and water beetles

scurrying to escape                      

our voices muffled

by the muzzle of heat.

Distant rumblings

lead sky against

tumultuous golden horizon.

A splat of mucky weed smacks

against my face

and subsequent chortles from

across the pond

instigating war!

Counting seconds between

bolts and blasts

lightening and thunder

until they became simultaneous and

rain beat upon us

from above

and below

a flash across the expanse              
then 
your arms jolting upwards
out of the water
like fence posts
and for a moment
you walked on water

like Jesus.

Then you stepped out of your body

and my tongue froze to my mind and never uttered a word again.