A sudden pull by dog stopped me in tracks

Making shoulder hurt as it was yanked back

But insistence of my pursuit of morning walk

Just resulted in further inclinations and balks



For whenever we hit an area unshaded by trees

She stalled again, coming to a complete freeze

All around block, until finally back to front door

Making body sweated out by the exertion, more



Than the dense humidity now hanging in the air

Which was not cleared by yesterday's rain, spare

A few sudden thunderclaps and then some drizzles

Reminding us it's now almost summer, and sizzles



Will be part of the scene for the next several months

As warm weather arrives, slowing us down to stumps

And productivity will decrease proportionate to the air

As stickiness is unzipped, revealing density to make bare



- Tristram



(c) Christopher W. Thomas

11:15am Tues. May 25th, 98