The Joy and the Pain of Summer

A morning walk in summer
bring back memories of Oklahoma,
memories that are awakened
by the songs of birds
and the barking of dogs.

At 69 the joy and the pain
of summer in Las Vegas
makes me nostalgic
for my joyful childhood.

Walking in the city's triple digit temperatures
I remember fondly
cooling Oklahoma rains,
while forgetting the F5 tornadoes
that sometimes accompany
Oklahoma thunderstorms.

It's the middle of July
soon monsoonal moisture
will descend
into the Las Vegas valley
causing the humidity to rise
without cooling
the temperatures.

Triple digit temperatures and
monsoonal moisture:
instead a frying eggs on the sidewalk
we can poach them.

Still I chose to live here,
I chose to experience
the joy and pain of a 24/7
urban existence
as opposed to middle America
country living.

I can't go back now;
despite the pain
of triple digit temperatures
and sweltering moisture
I'm addicted
to the joy of city living
that generates
nostalgic memories
of my half-forgotten childhood
in Oklahoma.

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