August Evening with Trumpet

Up in the woods a neighbor or stranger
who has had enough of August,
its spider webs and first yellow

near the roots of things,
has out of the blue found his old voice,
wailing away everything

he can remember.
Perhaps he will play
right through fall and winter,

not stopping until bloodroot
and anemone blossom.
But now it is almost dark.

Mist veils the fields,
and last sounds play out
as simply as longing or breath.

Copyright © 2004 Harry Humes All rights reserved
from August Evening with Trumpet
University of Arkansas Press
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission