Heat haze hunter

Countryside’s *hot* today, air’s thick as honey in a jar Cicadas screaming scripture, sun parked low like a beat-up car *Wolf* lays in the tall grass, golden eyes just half-closed Tongue out, ribs slow — even predators gotta doze Creek’s running low down the hill, dragonflies on patrol He ain’t hunting, just existing in the hush between the tolls Of the church bell in the distance and the hawk that circles high Everything’s still ‘cept the *heat haze* on the rye But don’t you think he’s soft now Don’t you think he’s tame Summer just makes the fire banked... not the same as... *Hot summer day* in the countryside *Wolf* in the shade where the cool dirt lies Panting like prayer, watching the world roll by Every breath’s a promise that he’s still alive He don’t need to run, don’t need to chase *Heat haze* makes a halo ‘round his face King of the quiet, lord of the lazy *Hot summer day*... and the *wolf’s* not crazy He’s just waiting Farmer’s dog tied up yonder, barking ‘bout a fool’s idea Of safety and of fences and of things that disappear *Wolf* don’t even lift his head. Dog’s got meat, he’s got might One knows chains, one knows stars. One howls, one bites Grasshoppers pop like grease in a pan when the wind cuts through Whole world’s holding its breath, waiting for the 5 o’clock dew But he knows what the dog don’t — that the night brings cold and game And a *hot summer day* is for dreaming up the names You’ll call your prey So let the dog keep barking Let the sun keep baking Wolf’s got all of August For the taking *Hot summer day* in the countryside *Wolf* in the shade where the cool dirt lies Panting like prayer, watching the world roll by Every breath’s a promise that he’s still alive He don’t need to run, don’t need to chase *Heat haze* makes a halo ‘round his face King of the quiet, lord of the lazy *Hot summer day*... and the *wolf’s* not crazy He’s just waiting Come sundown, that creek’ll run silver Come moonrise, that dog’ll run silent Come midnight... that field’ll run red But right now? It’s just a *hot summer day*... in the countryside... *Hot summer day* in the countryside *Wolf* in the shade where the cool dirt lies Panting like prayer, watching the world roll by Every breath’s a promise... That tomorrow, he’ll make the countryside Run. *Hot*... *summer*... *wolf*... waiting... but now the sun’s gone.