Summer Cinquains

We had a heat wave back in 2013 and I did a post called "Heat Wave Haiku".  It's been an even longer hot spell this summer (in my memory, not necessarily a meteorological fact) so I'm writing more poetry; since it's "Too hot for words" to quote from my first haiku in that old blogpost.  

This time, it's cinquains instead of haikus.  Don't know what a cinquain is?  I didn't either until I did a bit of research about types of poetry.  These are supposed to be so simple that children can write them.  Click here for "How to Write a Cinquain Poem".  I'm not really a poet, but I had fun with these.  I did not always completely follow the rules, but that's okay, right?  Artistic license and such?  

Now, on with Summer Cinquains:

Summer
Hot, humid
Sizzling, steaming, unremitting
Drains dogs and me
August

Hanging out under the ceiling fan.

Pups
Fun, four-legged
Playing, panting, resting
Sorry you are furry
Dogs

Turtle
Small, solitary
Daring, surprising, darling
Needs a new home
Snapper

Hawk
Young, hungry
Screeching, hunting, failing
Lucky for the rabbit
Red-tail

Insect
Primal, bizarre
Zooming, buzzing, sitting
Hope you are rare*
Dragonfly

Bird
Snowy, showy
Pursuing, stabbing, swallowing
Thanks for stopping by
Great Egret

Helicopter
Fanciful, fantastic
Incoming, speeding, sitting
Love your landing gear
Ruby-throat

Moth
Furry, tawny
Feeding, frolicking, flower-loving
Glad you like my garden
Clearwing

Nest
Hidden, ramshackle
Holding, protecting, swaying
Hope your eggs hatch
Cardinal

Flower
Scarlet, spectacular
Climbing, shading, blooming
Watering was worth it
Passionvine

These photos were all taken this week, so even in a heat wave there are things to enjoy and be thankful for... although the dogs and I are ready for cooler weather!

*In my last post, I had a dragonfly photo that my brother has since identified as a common male Eastern Amberwing.  He commented that I should "Keep looking" -- hence the "Hope you are rare" about this dragonfly! Update: Not rare (see comment below) but a pretty female Blue Dasher.

Heat Wave Haiku

Too hot for words
I’ll try something new

photos, Haiku

Creatures with wings
and creatures without
brighten hot days

Blue Dasher dragonfly

Glistening dragons
or are they damsels?
pause a moment

Shade beckons me
take a closer look
hop! tiny toad 

American Toad

Brilliant ‘sally’
not too far away
friends? not, I’d say

Red Eft Salamander

Garden surprise
where did you come from?
welcome to stay

Garter Snake

Summer colors
gracefully flutter
soon will be gone

Pearl Crescent

Breeze to ease
sultry days passing
too soon winter 

Cabbage White

Eastern Pondhawk

I'd like to thank my brother for his help with the identification of the butterflies and dragonflies!