Last day of August—
 
among lantana blossoms,
 
ladybugs make love.

 
 

Summer battlefield—
 
a soldier about to die
 
kisses a small cross.

 
 
 

Midsummer yearning—
 
a stranger in the teahouse
 
dreams of going home.

 
 
 

bitter iced coffee
 
to help swallow bitter news—
 
dog days of August

 
 
 

Long summer journey—
 
even the distant mountains
 
are too close for me.

 
 
 

My feet keep seeking
 
the coolness of smooth pebbles
 
in the mountain creeks.

 
 

Get down on your knees—
 
don’t you hear the weeds singing
 
sweet alleluias?

 
 

Long summer journey—
 
a mother keeps arguing
 
with her trans daughter.

 
 

In Old Havana
 
you grabbed my hand and we walked
 
through the summer streets.

 
 

What’s more important:
 
washing dishes or watching
 
yellow roses bloom?