Heat Beat

Water is the Widow Wyile’s element
a welcome retreat in excessive heat
of which she is not a fan—
            that she leaves to woodstove Fannie
            who whirls her arms all winter
so she dunks herself in waters whenever
and wherever she can 

Heat makes her lethargic
prone to lie on floors
            and indeed to lie prone
upon cool tile
to lounge in lakes
float on logs in dappled shade
or murmuring rivulets
dangle her feet in burbling
rushes of brooks
slip into deep glossy smooth
pools of dark cool
velvet waters surrounded
by boun
cing
            splish
                                  spla
                         shing   falls
        bow
rain         sparkle
         drop
   lets    
    be
everywhere 

when stuck in heat
conjuring cool retreats
is hard to beat