A drop of sweat finds its way down my back, and I am numb to the way it navigates the scaly mountain range of my spine before pooling in the cool indentation below. There are more pearls waiting their turn to slide, and they flitter like sprites on the fence of my brow, guarding the gardens of tangled hair that grow year-round. A midsummer meltdown, the sweat swells my feet into trolls. They have hidden in the shadows of shoes, safe from the cold, but now they must take their pilgrimage once again.
The thunder is my muse’s typewriter, and I anxiously await the drops of magic that will fall from her finished pages in sheets of rain. We’ve dined on dreams all winter, us two, wrapping ourselves in fairytale furs. Now, we find the summer solstice strikes its lightening to lengthen our days, and we must seek out new tokens of love tucked in the cowslip’s ear.
Looking for a pearl
on a midsummer night’s write?
Try a cowslip’s ear.
© khartless 2021, All Rights Reserved
Tonight is dVerse’s Haibun Monday and Frank is our host. His topic tonight the solstice.
I found my inspiration in the heat storm brewing here and this line from Shakespeare’s play.
“I must go seek some dewdrops here.”
(Fairy, Act 2 Scene 1, A Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Yard Sale of Thoughts 
In love with the imagery. Great job.
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Thank you. Oh, those summer nights.
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Nothing like a midsummer write’s dream! Well said.
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Thank you, Beverly. The storm swept up the heat here last night and left us blissfully in dreams.
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beautiful, luscious writing; oh, how I long for he trickle of sweat down my brow 🙂
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Summer sweat. Just a few months marinating. Hope you find beauty in the freeze, John. Thank you.
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there aren’t many odes to winter; there’s not much competition 😦
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Ode to a snowflake sounds lovely
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You even make sweat sound magical. Well done.
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Thank you, Maggie. In a way, it is magical this forming and condensing.
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I will admit, I like the feeling of sweat trickling down the sides of my face when I’m out working in the yard. It’s like a validation of my efforts, the literal “sweat equity” of my labors.
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Gorgeous. Love “midsummer meltdown” so much. And the title is incredible!
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Thank you. I didn’t realize cowslips were those flowers you see in pastures; next time I see one will surely search for dew . Definitely was a meltdown here yesterday before the storm.
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I enjoy this imagery of cuddling up with the muse, it makes me want to cuddle up with mine if it was only so pleasant–“We’ve dined on dreams all winter, us two, wrapping ourselves in fairytale furs.”
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Yes, and far better than resorting to any cannibalism. Fear I would regret eating my muse afterwards. 😉 Thank you, TJ.
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I always wondered what a dream would taste like.
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As lush and evocative a portrayal of Midsummer as I’ve read!
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Many thanks, Frank. Great prompt to focus us on on the present.
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“dined on dreams all winter”
And then the imagery of the heat! Cool.
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Many Thanks, D. That hot, cold switch we’re all experiencing, I was glad to try and capture of bit of that in the imagery.
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Your writing is inspiring. Thank you.
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Thank you kindly, Susan. Your comment made my day. 😉
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No problem. Your poem made mine!
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Very nicely done!
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Thank you, Dwight. A stormy night here but oh, the cool breeze is back.
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How wonderful! The humidity is back here!
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Drats, might need that fresh lemonade and front porch swing sooner rather than later. Good luck staying cool, Dwight.
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:>)
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Very well written, I love the imagery throughout your words!
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Thanks, Lucy. Thought it’d be fun to let the fairies pen this one.
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Very vivid imagery. Well done.
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Thanks, Fandango. Much appreciated.
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‘The thunder is my muse’s typewriter’ – it was certainly fired up here! So atmospheric and sultry…
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I can’t identify one favorite line in either the prose or the haiku, KH – this is magical from start to finish.
❤
David
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Thank you, David. Hope your creative muse feels enthused by the solstice.
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Nicely done with hints of Shakespeare
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Thank you, Ron. I’m a fan of the bard and thought a midsummer romp of my own was quite appropriate.
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A wonderful description of intensity, in all its manifestations. (K)
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Thank you. It was quite a storm last year, but cool and mellow now. The sky is sulking and another temper tantrum may be in order her this evening.
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Nothing to add. Exhilerating!
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Wonderful. I loved this. “The thunder is my muse’s typewriter, and I anxiously await the drops of magic that will fall from her finished pages in sheets of rain.”
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Thank you, Susan. Awaiting more droplets this evening.
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You’ve mesmerized me with your domain. What a magical place within which to create, Karen. I adore this part:
“We’ve dined on dreams all winter, us two, wrapping ourselves in fairytale furs.”
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Thank you, Lisa. Winter always feels heavy and solemn. For me the summer has a lightness. I hope I can capture a lighter side in my writing this season.
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You’re welcome.
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You capture it all except that all the cowslips have already bloomed… but I do love it, and I love how you describe the dreaming of summer until it comes with too much heat.
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