Pale Yellow Mornings

For Jeff, with whom I'd love to spend a lazy morning lingering over coffee.

Pale Yellow Mornings



Where the light is soft
and the air, still cool,
calm
but with feel
around the edges
that the heat is just, barely,
held at bay...
faint wisp of a breeze
that invites
lingering over
a second cup of coffee,
that says
leave the windows open a wee bit longer...
that allows
the scent of lilacs to waft gently by
before
the heat of the day layers in,
heavy layers shimmering on the street
and pressing down:
an argument not quite settled,
but waiting for another time.
Thunderstorms
expected here tonight;
the maple out back
is already anticipating it,
leaves curled
upwards even as branches bend low.