Late afternoon

The dogs lie close by
one to the left, one on the right
the other at my feet
I look up at the space between the trees
and try to mix the colour
with paints and pigments in my mind
the hadeda drinks quietly at the bowl
a slight movement gets him noticed
the doves flutter in the trees
trying to keep their balance
in pairs, the white-eyes explore the shrubs
now a thrush bathes in the water bowl
all the planes leaving the airport
choose the same path north
an adventure for some, business for others
a mosquito screams in my ear
giving me ample warning
then strikes – shoulder, hand, thigh
the swallows are performing a ballet
way up high
it's so beautiful that you believe
you can heard the music
a car speeds by
a group of ladies walk
past my wall and laugh
my dog barks: quiet, please
the colour of the sky is changing
like magic – although I'm watching
I don't see it happening
a black-collared barbet comes to show
us a bright green thing in his beak
a butterfly flutters by
three spitfires fly in formation
two side-by-side, the other behind
the dogs wander inside
and settle in their baskets
the bats are out and about
there's a lot of traffic now
but I hear only the birds
saying good night, sleep tight
that plop sound is the frog
getting into the pool
so clumsy on land, hop, hop
such a graceful swimmer
ah, there – the evening star.

First summer rains, 30+11=41mm

All week long the bullfrog has been croaking; it's coming, it's coming. All day the clouds come and go, teasing us, making us hope, making us ache, making us beg; please, please, please. Then for the most dramatic effect it arrives under cover of darkness. Knowing the earth is a sphere the thunder travels in circles, clockwise, round and round. The lightning acts like a string of faulty Christmas lights. Once here, once there. Blue, yellow, orange, white, purple. A few shy, tentative drops to see if it would be welcome and as the plants and trees cry; yes, yes! the rain lets go of all its inhibitions and gives and gives and gives. At first fiercely, then tenderly, then generously, then gently. And we whisper this prayer; thank you.