It’s Awfully Hot

 

 

It is awfully hot

In this country of ours

And to make it cooler than at present

I have no such power.

 

Here I am sitting

With three fans on me

But I am still feeling uncomfortable

And full of lethargy.

 

It’s not me to complain,

I am just stating the fact

And bear in mind I am sitting here

With no shirt on my back.

 

To move from here

Will take determination

And right now, let me say most clearly,

This is not my intention.

 

For to move from here

Is to use up precious energy

That the heat has already sapped

From out of me.

 

I am grateful, though

That I am here in the shade

For were not for the roof above me,

Nothing would avail.

 

I am thankful also

For this open window

Through which there a light breeze

That constantly blows.

 

I had to share with you

The almost forgotten side

For while as I said, it is awfully hot,

The good I must not hide.

 

Three fans, I have stated

And two open windows

Through which I have mentioned.

A slight wind blows.

  

I am sorry for you

Who are traversing the street

And for workers on metallic roofs

It cannot be sweet.

 

 

 

Do rehydrate often

Not with water too cold

And in the event of a fainting spell

There’s something to hold.

 

It’s a good way down

From the roof to the ground

And do remember there is a family

Who wants you around.

 

It is awfully hot

But you are still alive

Whereas the dead cannot tell

Having not survived.

 

 

 

Let’s give thanks for the sun

However hot

And let us look forward to the time

When temperatures drop.

 

Stewart Russell © September 28, 2025

 

The Wind

The wind can send you to sleep

Or the wind can keep you awake,

Sometimes it wafts a fragrance sweet

Or quite a foul odour makes.

The wind we cannot see

But we know when it’s around,

The evidence is stark and clear

As we hear its many sounds.

It may rustle through the trees

Or it may whistle along the wires,

Bits of paper oft disturbs

Or it may drive a lit-up fire.

The wind has many faces

But I will just describe a few

Like the wind that’s calm and cool

Or stirs the cold midnight dew.

It can snarl with an ugly face

As it creates strife for many a mile

Or cool down the midday heat

With a reassuring little smile.

It can create havoc on the seas

And send a ship adrift

Or it can simply fill a sail

And give a seafarer’s heart a lift.

It can play ripples on the ocean

Or rock a tourist to sleep,

The wind, it can get so terribly angry

And send a boat to the briny deep.

Yes the wind is air in motion

As we learned in the science class,

It’s caused by high and low pressures

And may move slowly or fast.

Besides our needed oxygen

And carbon dioxide for our plants,

It will spin the big wind turbines

And dry a dress or pants.

The wind can amuse little children

As their kites fill them with glee

But sometimes it can be quite horrible

When that kite ends up in a tree.

A mixed personality has the wind,

Perhaps even by-polar at times,

Right now it’s calm and reassuring,

Later it can leave you in a bind.

It can cause untold damage

As though full of revenge and hate

And later caress a hillside brow

As though they were on a date.

Sometimes we call it the air

And other times we name it the wind

Depending on the mood it’s in

Either of these we will likely rescind.

However, we praise God for the wind

Though destructive it can be,

We give Him thanks for its usefulness

And that up until now it is still free.

Stewart Russell © May, 2017