Grass grows patchy in bristling brown spikes (if it grows at all). The smooth-complexioned face of land now sunburned and cracked under unrelenting heat. Fields once flush with fruits go barren, pleading through parched throats and chapped lips that no kiss of water or answered prayer has yet come to soften, for August doesn’t care about religion or rain dances.
***
FOWC, W3, dVerse, and retroactively Poets and Storytellers United. I took inspiration from Timothy Price. Also inspired by one of my own poems.
Jewish Young Professional 
That is an excellent drought poem that captures the dry and desperate plants and landscape. Thanks for the link. I so happy gave you a little inspiration for this wonderful piece.
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Thank you. The image of the rain as kisses craved by the thirsty ground really stuck with me.
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seeing that cracked and thirsty ground every day makes an impression.
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Great poem that depicts drought completely 🙂
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Thanks!
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Reblogged this on From guestwriters and commented:
Who knows, July and August will be recorded as the warmest and driest months in Europe since records began.
One can only hope that now, with all the fires and other natural disasters that are coming to our regions, there will be a greater awareness that something must be done to combat global warming.
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Very nicely done. August does make the plants beg and plead for a small sip!
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I felt for the poor plants!
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People seems to be having opposite curses in different parts of the globe. One by fire, one by flood, one by drought.
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Confession: this poem is made up, as, to my knowledge, my geographic region is not experiencing a drought. I just thought it was believable so I wrote it. But I do think it’s interesting that there’s such divergent experiences of weather globally this time of year.
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This is incredibly palpable and tugs strongly on my heart. I especially resonate with; “Fields once flush with fruits go barren, pleading through parched throats and chapped lips that no kiss of water or answered prayer
has yet come to soften.” Thank you so much for adding your voice to the prompt ❤❤
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Thanks! Land is tricky to personify, but I really liked this image and I am glad to hear it resonated.
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Terrific!
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Thanks!
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My pleasure, darling.
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You captured the aridity of an August bereft of rain so perfectly.
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Thank you!
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Love this spot on poem.
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Thank you! It seems that this description is unfortunately apt for many geographic areas this summer…
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Yes, too little rain in many places, and too much rain in others. Even flooding in Las Vegas, which normally has very little rain.
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It does seem like a season of extremes in both directions
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Unfortunately August has its dark side. An excess of heat is too cruel.. Good alliteration.
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It definitely has a cruel side, no question.
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Wow, great poem. I love it. Felt like this could be about more than one kind of drought. Great job 🙂
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Thanks! Yeah, I felt this could apply to more than one type of unanswered prayer. Thanks for providing part of the inspiration
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Nicely done!
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Thanks!
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Your verse is especially germane this year.
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It is. Although a bit distressing that so many regions seem to be experiencing brutal heat this summer
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That is true. August doesn’t care. And I live her mostly because she’s getting me closer to fall. Yay.
So I adore Autumn.
Your poem, lovely. I adore it to pieces too. Thanks for sharing. Blessing as always.
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Your comment offers such a positive spin on August, and I shouldn’t have expected anything less from you Selma. It probably comes as no surprise that I, the eternal pessimist, have a consistently negative view. Last August, I wrote this one (https://jewishyoungprofessional.wordpress.com/2021/08/03/current-mood/) and after all that whining, I booked a totally selfish impulsive vacation for myself and had a great time. Moral of the story – complain less. Thank you for sharing
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Delightfully vivid! We just had some severe thunder storms last night… I’ve been “kissed” enough!!
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the land and lips are telltale signs. This made me realize I’m thirsty.
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Indeed, August can be merciless … in Central Oregon I awaken many mornings to hazy sun and the smell of distant wildfires. Your poem is exquisitely composed.
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Absolutely stellar last two lines!
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All your inspirations have coalesced into something new and potent.
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Waiting for the relief that is never coming…agonizing.
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Dunno how I missed this one! The funny thing, I find August to be a relief in some way. No need to feel at odds with all the blooming greenery. We’re all dry and dying and depressed now!
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I’m really impressed that you just made this up, JYP – it’s incredibly vivid and believable.
❤
David
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