August, Western New York State

The moon, last night
Orange yellow at its height
The atmosphere carried a hazy smoke
From wild fires a thousand miles away

This morning the sky was the clearest blue
A wind shift to the North
With a Canadian high
Cleaned and cleared the air above

This high will stay with us awhile
Blocking a southerly flow
Humidity kept to the south and east
Summer sun still heats the day

In the hedgerow
Wild flowers, purple, yellow,
White Queen Anne's lace nodding
Hides the ripening blackberries

I find them
Avoid poison ivy
To pick a few sweet bites
For my love and I

We sit on the bench
Watch the horses slowly graze
And smell the sweet pasture grass
That she mowed yesterday

Small clouds forming bright white
Against the deepening blue
They will grow taller through the day
The undersides become a darker gray

The breeze freshens, north-northwest
Slowly moves and shapes the clouds
Flutters the leaves on the taller trees
And murmurs through the cornfield behind us

This is the day that will come to mind
When cold, cold winds carry bursts of snow
Off from Lake Ontario
To brush against my face