Michelle Faulkner Poet Free verse

Apologies To August

Yes, I have called you callous
Garish and imperious
An inconvenient glare
Cracking apart the shadows of my sleep
The insistent inconsistency
Of the besieging and retreating heat
In your smoke stained fingers
Your blistering love peeling
My patience, my humor and
The back of my neck
Yet also, I have watched
My windows grow more golden
In the bask of your benevolence
Pouring your glory into
Precisely trimmed squares 
On my kitchen floor
Your manes of wheaten hills
Crowning the coming harvest
With luxurious grain
So I will forgive
Your sultry swagger
Your stifling autocracy
As these dog days close in
For you are also
The best excuse
For ice cream

8/12/23

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Quoth Theraven December 16, 2025 at 3:08 PM Hello Michelle, To tell a truth in long days you needn't go far. It's all found right here in your August. "The best excuse for ice cream" -Richard

Richard Lamoureux September 23, 2023 at 2:12 PM We are cooler this week and expect rain next week.

Nancy Kaufman September 8, 2023 at 1:09 PM wonderful personification. This is absolutely a gorgeous write.

Juliet Ligon August 25, 2023 at 6:49 PM Great job personifying August! I love the detail of the sun peaking through "Pouring your glory into Precisely trimmed squares On my kitchen floor."

Susan Ashley August 19, 2023 at 10:22 AM Dear Michelle, your poetic Apologies August is both charming and eloquent. Clever use of language "insistent inconsistency" and enchanting imagery "manes of wheaten hills" make for a lovely and reflective piece with a delightful ending. Warmest wishes my inspiring friend.. ~Susan Michelle Faulkner August 24, 2023 at 8:45 PM I had fun playing with those lines, so glad for your comments as always as I admire your talent so much~

John Watt August 18, 2023 at 10:04 PM I have to agree with Gary about your beautifully poetic way with words, whether free verse, metered, rhymed, or not. Your diatribe to a personified August rings true, as it can seem domineering at times. Love so many lines and phrases here; "callous, garish, and imperious" sets a great opening tone, "peeling My patience, my humor and The back of my neck" is a clever turn of phrase, and "Your manes of wheaten hills Crowning the coming harvest" is pure nature loveliness. Fun ending, too. That wouldn't be Tillamook ice cream by any chance, would it? I get such sheer delight in reading your creations. Michelle Faulkner August 24, 2023 at 8:43 PM Fun fact, the 'manes of wheaten hills' came to me when we were driving up I 5 north back to Oregon right through the heart of central California, with all their wheat covered hills - am thrilled as always for your input, hope you can get some Tillamook ice cream soon~

Valsa George August 18, 2023 at 4:28 AM August is the month when summer is at its peak with sultry heat waves. It gives us ample excuse for delighting on ice creams. Some beautiful images ! Enjoyed your lovely poem dear Michelle ! Michelle Faulkner August 24, 2023 at 8:47 PM belated thank you for your kind words Valsa, am always glad to hear from you~

Gary Radice August 15, 2023 at 1:57 AM August in Ol' Blighty has been a wash out so far. August should be apologizing to the UK. I digress. This is a great read Michelle. I love the structure and descriptions..you have a beautifully poetic way with words. I'll add that I also love anything to do with ice cream. :) Cheers - Gary Michelle Faulkner August 17, 2023 at 9:27 PM Your comments are always so positive, I am very glad you enjoyed this one, hope you have a good August, thanks Gary

Jim Slaughter August 13, 2023 at 10:14 AM I love this, Michelle, and I will try and remember it the next time I complain about August. Michelle Faulkner August 13, 2023 at 1:50 PM Hope you enjoy a lot of ice cream this August, thanks Jim

Joanna Daniel August 13, 2023 at 3:38 AM Oh! This is so beautiful, Michelle, I love how you personified August:) and who doesn't love ice cream?? Michelle Faulkner August 13, 2023 at 1:49 PM Thank goodness for ice cream in the summer - thanks for commenting, Jo

Mystic Rose Rose August 12, 2023 at 9:03 PM It has been hot hot hot these days, though great for tanning, I'm looking forward to cooler weather Michelle :) Michelle Faulkner August 13, 2023 at 1:49 PM Me too! Thanks for your comment

Gershon Wolf August 12, 2023 at 7:50 PM Love how you turned this poem from a tragedy into a comedy in the last few lines there, Michelle. A bit of Shakespeare in you, I reckon. (By comedy, I don't mean 'hardy-har-har' either). Cheers, gw Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 7:57 PM We are facing a week of 100 degree days, at least we will eat a lot of ice cream! Thanks for stopping by, gw :)

Sotto Poet August 12, 2023 at 6:16 PM Oh, what a delightful read! Truly exquisite, Michelle! I relished every moment of it. Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 7:56 PM Thank you very much, that means a lot~

Akkina Downing August 12, 2023 at 5:11 PM Oh this was a fun read. I enjoyed it very much. :) Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 7:55 PM Appreciate it, thank you Akkina

Paige Hind August 12, 2023 at 3:02 PM Quite beautiful, Michelle! Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 3:16 PM Thank you very much, Paige

Yann Rolland August 12, 2023 at 2:42 PM very nice, Ending.there are many reasons to forgive auguste, thanks for the enjoyable poem Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 3:15 PM I am glad you liked it, yann, thank you

Bill Baker August 12, 2023 at 2:42 PM Excellent poetry, Michelle, especially the ending few lines. :-) I just finished making homemade ice cream ... Chocolate ... I'm thinking about an early dinner so we can get into the dessert phase of the evening. :-) Smiles ~ Blessing, my friend. Bill Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 3:15 PM Homemade ice cream! what time can I come by :)

Richard Lamoureux August 12, 2023 at 2:09 PM Yep, summer is slipping by. We have a lot of fires here in Canada. We can use the cooler weather. Thanks for your visit. Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 3:15 PM We are heading to a straight week of 100 plus days, also hoping for cooler weather, thanks for commenting~

Evelyn Judy Buehler August 12, 2023 at 1:11 PM 'My windows grow more golden In the bask of your benevolence' Beautiful images, Michelle! Enjoyable reading. Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 3:14 PM Thank you so much, Evelyn

Kim Rodrigues August 12, 2023 at 12:09 PM Love this, Michelle! You find the best excuse to indulge in ice cream! …so I will forgive your sultry swagger Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 12:14 PM Yes that is the silver lining here, thanks Kim

Kim Merryman August 12, 2023 at 11:20 AM I, too, dislike August for its heat, but you have descriptively revealed some reasons to appreciate it. Especially the ice cream! Blessings, Kim M Michelle Faulkner August 12, 2023 at 11:23 AM Peach ice cream is my favorite to eat in august, thanks for commenting, Kim