The smoke that smears itself over everything

                                             Returning recently to Victoria,
                             The smoke from burning fires settled upon everything,
                                       Creating a kind of unease that is irksome.
                             My thoughts, prayers, and love goes out to the fire fighters
                                            And those affected by the fires.

         

                                 yesterday was one of those days in australia of late
                                 where the horizon is smudged with smoke
                                 from some far off fire
                                 
                                 and an eerie resounding feeling abounds
                                 as the heat sticks
                                 and plays game with ones mind.

                                 inescapable it is,
                                 the drying fierceness
                                 of the pulsing summer sun.

                                 in my youth, summer would come and go
                                 uneventfully, save for burnt skin
                                 and joy of late evenings under the sprinkler.

                                 now it seems to stretch itself
                                 obtusely across the longer part of
                                 the year creating dread for the likes of me and my coolth 
                                 loving kin. 

                                  © Allis Hamilton