Summer in the South

The sun blazes, the car steering wheel is hard to touch,
Some days it's so hot an egg will fry on asphalt,
Barefoot children run fast across blistering sands,
Hoping to avoid the pain of burnt feet,
Droplets of sweat, stream down backs and sting eyes.
The sun quickly hides behind clouds, blackening the skies
Gentle rain becomes a torrential downpour
Lightening lights the sky from bottom to top
Thunder vibrates the window panes,
Winds shear the tops out of large pine trees,
After the rain little toads appear from no where
To splash in mud puddles,
Red birds, sparrows and blue jays play.
The sun reappears, everything is clean and brighter.
Blackberries grow wild in fields; it pays to watch your step
Rattle snakes like to hide in their vines,
Mosquitoes swarm everywhere in search of warm blood.
Trucks loudly pass, ineffectually streaming pesticide,
The sweet stench of it fills my nose.
Lawns and flowers flourish, green and rose,
Marigolds and honey suckle scents float in the air.
The season's culinary fair consists of vegetables, fresh
Boiled peanuts, watermelons and green plums
Someone usually has vine ripened tomatoes to share
I hate to say goodbye to the summertime.

The South in winter

Of winter I have less to say, but more to remember,
It is a short, fickle period of time
As late as December air conditioners can still whine.
The number of cold days can be counted on one hand.
Shelters have to advertise to let people know
They can come there to get out of the cold.
Everyone gets so excited at the word snow,
But no one can drive in it so cars slide to and fro
Morning frost colors the ground white
Car windshields are coated with ice.
A big event is when the fair comes to town.
The usual rides can be found there; like the Ferris wheel
And meals are consumed of cotton candy and elephant ears
On the last day of the fair, as if scheduled
The first chill of winter appears.
Then there's the holiday season with its songs,
I'm ready for the end of it by the time winter's gone.