Texas summer coming

hard-pressed that awesome trek
from over there to here
those awful steamy times 
of dread and humid doubt


hard-won these few moments
of easy rest and peace
even though i know
the beast is still about


and now summer's thrusting nose
is sniffing at my heels
so soon a ugly animal
with a snarling foetid snout


it lurks just beyond
that yellow western sky
the heat is like a hammer
that brings a mighty clout


1979