A drop of sweat finds its way down my back, and I am numb to the way it navigates the scaly mountain range of my spine before pooling in the cool indentation below. There are more pearls waiting their turn to slide, and they flitter like sprites on the fence of my brow, guarding the gardens of tangled hair that grow year-round. A midsummer meltdown, the sweat swells my feet into trolls. They have hidden in the shadows of shoes, safe from the cold, but now they must take their pilgrimage once again.

The thunder is my muse’s typewriter, and I anxiously await the drops of magic that will fall from her finished pages in sheets of rain. We’ve dined on dreams all winter, us two, wrapping ourselves in fairytale furs. Now, we find the summer solstice strikes its lightening to lengthen our days, and we must seek out new tokens of love tucked in the cowslip’s ear.

Looking for a pearl
on a midsummer night’s write?
Try a cowslip’s ear.

© khartless 2021, All Rights Reserved


Tonight is dVerse’s Haibun Monday and Frank is our host. His topic tonight the solstice.

I found my inspiration in the heat storm brewing here and this line from Shakespeare’s play.

“I must go seek some dewdrops here.”
(Fairy, Act 2 Scene 1, A Midsummer Night’s Dream)

46 responses to “Seek Dewdrops Here”

  1. In love with the imagery. Great job.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you. Oh, those summer nights.

      Like

  2. Beverly Crawford Avatar
    Beverly Crawford

    Nothing like a midsummer write’s dream! Well said.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you, Beverly. The storm swept up the heat here last night and left us blissfully in dreams.

      Like

  3. beautiful, luscious writing; oh, how I long for he trickle of sweat down my brow 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Summer sweat. Just a few months marinating. Hope you find beauty in the freeze, John. Thank you.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. there aren’t many odes to winter; there’s not much competition 😦

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Ode to a snowflake sounds lovely

        Liked by 1 person

  4. You even make sweat sound magical. Well done.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you, Maggie. In a way, it is magical this forming and condensing.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I will admit, I like the feeling of sweat trickling down the sides of my face when I’m out working in the yard. It’s like a validation of my efforts, the literal “sweat equity” of my labors.

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  5. Gorgeous. Love “midsummer meltdown” so much. And the title is incredible!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. I didn’t realize cowslips were those flowers you see in pastures; next time I see one will surely search for dew . Definitely was a meltdown here yesterday before the storm.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. I enjoy this imagery of cuddling up with the muse, it makes me want to cuddle up with mine if it was only so pleasant–“We’ve dined on dreams all winter, us two, wrapping ourselves in fairytale furs.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, and far better than resorting to any cannibalism. Fear I would regret eating my muse afterwards. 😉 Thank you, TJ.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I always wondered what a dream would taste like.

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  7. As lush and evocative a portrayal of Midsummer as I’ve read!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Many thanks, Frank. Great prompt to focus us on on the present.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. “dined on dreams all winter”

    And then the imagery of the heat! Cool.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Many Thanks, D. That hot, cold switch we’re all experiencing, I was glad to try and capture of bit of that in the imagery.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Your writing is inspiring. Thank you.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you kindly, Susan. Your comment made my day. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. No problem. Your poem made mine!

        Liked by 1 person

  10. Very nicely done!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Dwight. A stormy night here but oh, the cool breeze is back.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. How wonderful! The humidity is back here!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Drats, might need that fresh lemonade and front porch swing sooner rather than later. Good luck staying cool, Dwight.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. :>)

        Like

  11. Very well written, I love the imagery throughout your words!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Lucy. Thought it’d be fun to let the fairies pen this one.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Very vivid imagery. Well done.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Fandango. Much appreciated.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. ‘The thunder is my muse’s typewriter’ – it was certainly fired up here! So atmospheric and sultry…

    Liked by 1 person

  14. I can’t identify one favorite line in either the prose or the haiku, KH – this is magical from start to finish.


    David

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, David. Hope your creative muse feels enthused by the solstice.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. Nicely done with hints of Shakespeare

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Ron. I’m a fan of the bard and thought a midsummer romp of my own was quite appropriate.

      Like

  16. A wonderful description of intensity, in all its manifestations. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you. It was quite a storm last year, but cool and mellow now. The sky is sulking and another temper tantrum may be in order her this evening.

      Liked by 1 person

  17. Nothing to add. Exhilerating!

    Like

  18. Wonderful. I loved this. “The thunder is my muse’s typewriter, and I anxiously await the drops of magic that will fall from her finished pages in sheets of rain.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Susan. Awaiting more droplets this evening.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. You’ve mesmerized me with your domain. What a magical place within which to create, Karen. I adore this part:
    “We’ve dined on dreams all winter, us two, wrapping ourselves in fairytale furs.”

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Lisa. Winter always feels heavy and solemn. For me the summer has a lightness. I hope I can capture a lighter side in my writing this season.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You’re welcome.

        Like

  20. You capture it all except that all the cowslips have already bloomed… but I do love it, and I love how you describe the dreaming of summer until it comes with too much heat.

    Like

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