The heat of the July days
comes slamming down on pavement,
but soaks into everything that's living,
the motionless leaves,
the thin skin of the anole,
and the bushy flowers of the crape myrtles
that thrive on it.
The heat is lush, like the rain that follows
in the late afternoon, right about nap time.
The heat sends the resurrection fern
to its mock death,
dry, cracking, the color of nicotine,
its spore laden leaves curl,
the better to catch the drops of rain,
after a nap
in the heat.