Summer’s drought deepens—

dust settles down on my porch

like a tired old cat.

 
 
 

A sagging front porch—
 
two old people in rockers
 
watch maple leaves fall.

 
 
 

Sultry afternoon—
 
on the porch we sip iced tea
 
while our tabby naps.

 
 
 

Summer thunderstorm—
 
a feral cat takes refuge
 
on my neighbor’s porch.

 
 
 

On a Phoenix porch
 
pots of red geraniums
 
startle passersby.

 
 
 

Long after midnight
 
I keep counting the raindrops
 
hitting the porch roof.

Rain

 
 
 

Even during rain
 
the front-porch jack-o’-lantern
 
wears a coat of dust.

Boom

 
 
 

BOOM! go the fireworks—
 
my neighbor’s calico cat
 
darts under the porch.

Cold

 
 
 

last day of autumn—
 
a stone beside the porch step
 
grows cold, then colder

Same

 
 
 

one on the porch swing
 
and one in the maple tree
 
but the same blackbird