late afternoon

stillheat  

gathers on

the underside

of grass leaves

stillheat

sinks in oak roots

lingers in the labial

folds of roses

stillheat

hides in bits of

silicate shining quartz

the ant carries

the burden of stillheat

on its back

stillheat

cools in the

wake of wings.

stillheat

smiles through

ice cubes cracking

in tea