Just Because: 'August'

Reese

Lizette Woodworth Reese (1856-1935) was born in Maryland to a German immigrant and a Confederate soldier. She taught English for 50 years and published nine volumes of poetry, two narrative poems, two memoirs, and an autobiographical novel. She was named poet laureate of Maryland in 1931. Her poem Tears is considered by many to be her best, but as it's August and as this is also a lovely poem ... (from poem-a-day):

No wind, no bird. The river flames like brass.
On either side, smitten as with a spell
Of silence, brood the fields. In the deep grass,
Edging the dusty roads, lie as they fell
Handfuls of shriveled leaves from tree and bush.
But 'long the orchard fence and at the gate,
Thrusting their saffron torches through the hush,
Wild lilies blaze, and bees hum soon and late.
Rust-colored the tall struggling briar, not one
                                                                 Rose left. The spider sets its loom up there
                                                                 Close to the roots, and spins out in the sun
                                                                 A silken web from twig to twig. The air
                                                                 Is full of hot rank scents. Upon the hill
                                                                 Drifts the noon's single cloud, white, glaring, still.