by Kelly

at midnight I sit

with my dogs and my bare feet

outside counting stars

by Kelly

fushia petunias

open to humidity

while we wilt

by Alison

like a Mercedes

or like a day at the spa -

air conditioning

by Kelly

I sit snapping beans

in evening heat, thinking of

my grandma’s garden.

by Kelly

politics heat up

in St. Paul* — humidity

climbs and storms approach

* The Minnesota state government shut down at midnight, and with it, state parks, camp grounds, highway rest stops, zoos, horse racing tracks, carnival ride inspections, restaurant inspections and a long list of other state-funded agencies just in time for the 4th of July holiday. The legislators and the governor cannot agree on a budget. There is little hope that either side is willing to compromise. Nobody knows how long this will go on.  Thousands of state employees have been laid off. Their last day of work was yesterday.

by Kelly

We all want to know,

will summer be hot or cold?

spring speculation

by Kelly

Arizona heat

pricks my underarms — I squint

into the sun

twice today I dropped

my keys in parking lot slush —

bursts of winter sun

by Kelly

the furnace blows hot

but my nipples still ache from

the cold in my bones

by Kelly

I love you, he says

his voice full of morning phlegm –

the furnace kicks on

Or

the furnace kicks on –

his voice full of morning phlegm

he says I love you