The long heat wave approaches like a might army.

Like a mighty army
the air conditioning compressors
sound their struggling cadence.
With each laboring step
their rhythm struggles
to maintain the same tempo
as if they can barely stay together.
Thermal weapons
emit hot winds
like the blast from a fiery furnace.
One wonders if the dryness
of everything within sight
is approaching its kindling point.

Day by day the marching
increases to the decibels of war
and the steam from the weapons
give a haze to the cloudless skies.
Dust from the parched earth
blends with the perspiration
on our wrinkled brows
giving us the appearance of
soldiers returning from the battlefield.

The icy water we consume
quickly seeps through our pours
and seems to shout
“more water, please.”
The white flags of surrender
are the handerchiefs
which have long ago become soaked.

Experience tells me
this too shall pass.
The school busses will arrive
with horns sounding like the bugles
of the rescuing cavalry
chasing off the enemy.
The bouncing footballs at high schools
under Friday night lights
join with the bright colored leaves
which will soon drop to the ground.

All of this reminds us
of the changing seasons
both of climate and of life.
The Creator established order
to this magnificent handiwork
which continually sings praises
to its God.