Afternoon in Paradise

by Susan Cameron

Wow. What kind of mood was I in when I wrote this one?


AFTERNOON IN PARADISE

I've been lying
under the Southern California sky,
which is flatter than Kansas
and bleached as white as desert bones.

I shut my eyes against the glare.

No breeze disturbs the overheated stillness--
earthquake weather,
though people deny there is such a thing.

I lift the gin-and-tonic to my lips
and swallow hard.

I float alone in the silent pool.

There's a faint dry rattle overhead --
a spiky clatter and scratch.

My eyes are closed, but I can tell
we have rats
in the palm trees
again.

Susan Cameron, copyright 1999