the wind came
out of exile
from the north
tempering the
somnolent summer
that turns a head
and slouches south
beaten for now
it freshens in
respite for
heaving lungs
and tacky skin
blowing purity
through thoughts
simplifying
the next stretch
into mindful
preparations
to slow our
need for the world
to forgive
its expectations
and leave the cold
to steer our course
paulhp poetry 