Of July

Cloud-tumbled fallow shifts, billows above

Green ripple of earth’s supple sea

It is not difficult to love, my love

Where July spins her poetry

River of bloom rushes wild where the child

Fills fingers with its filigree

Purple and gold for the pauper is sold

Under the wild apple-tree

Blessing from God silver coin cannot buy

See, from the coffers of heaven

He fills the garden with rain from the sky

Tickles the soil with its sunshine

Sighing and dreaming, our words warmly grin

‘Lemonade, flip-flops, sea-shore’,

Baskets of berries, bronze summer-kissed skin

We tread her lily-starred floor

Under its awning of azure we lie

Lounging on blankets of grass

Where every hour is full of July

For we know, too soon it will pass

© Janet Martin

This morning is a perfect July morning...after approx. 16 hours of sleep. Suddenly yesterday afternoon my body said, enough! I couldn't stop coughing or shivering and sweating; horrible!!

Feeling somewhat better and hopefully on the mend. I've been spoiled by good health and am not a very patient invalid!