Morning breeze making
a fleeting but welcome attempt
to temper the humidity
that envelops our shore.
Heavy dew of a sultry night
evaporating with the rising sun.
An Osprey of almost prehistoric size
circles above, eyeing prey
for her developing brood.
It’s July on Cape Cod,
but only by designation on the calendar.
Simple pleasures of early morning
briefly ease the stress of the larger world.
A tentative world fearful of human contact,
where masks muffle speech and hide smiles.
Where social distancing permeates
our thoughts and actions.
Where spontaneous hugs have vanished
more quickly than the dew.