Elemental

Somewhat ridiculous,
here in the middle of winter, are
shorts.
These summer clothes are themselves
a nuisance: they badger
you about body shape
and what shoes to wear.

Hanging in the back of the closet
they seem to paint a beach
scene, all striped towels and
orange cover-ups.  The sun
evaporates the water and melts
the sand.  Do we have a name
for this synthesis of elements?

It's hard to remember
days lost to heatstroke and
condensation,
weathervanes swinging freely,
but somewhere people are
barefoot, the
sun dripping lazily in a
fading oleander sky.