[Martin Elster]

Revision

October 6th

October sixth at Hammonasset strand,
And people in the ocean. (Even I,
Who hates cold water, swam.) The azure sky,
As hazy as a day in August, sand
and sea and sun, the sound of the surf breaking,
Spry seabirds scavenging, the butterflies
And bodies baking, and the gulls’ harsh cries
Seem distant as the stars from autumn-raking,
Which soon will happen on suburban lawns
As surely as the wind produces waves,
As surely as birds migrate and the dawns
Grow colder and the bats seek out cool caves.
Yet here I sit in sultriness now, writing,
And on an apple — not a peach — am biting.


Jayne -- after some more thought, I decided to put back "sultriness" because I feel the couplet needs to remind the reader about the fact that this uncommon autumn day was very summer-like. So, even though I felt your suggestion about "contemplation" was good, I think "sultriness" is what is needed here.