By: Jim Bates

Afternoon heat
Quiet backyard
Suddenly
Buzzing
Buzzing, buzzing, buzzing
Cicadas calling
Emerging from years underground
Into the warm soil
Males serenading females
A true delight of summer
The old man sets aside his book
He listens
Entranced
A summer melody
Unlike any other
A singular symphony
He smiles
Heart warmed
By the buzzing
Barrage.