In this slow stretch of August
between rains, I rest my case
barely moving from this place
watching droplets run through dust.
In this slow stretch of August
the glass casts a frozen face
deadpan as our last embrace.
Some discernment of disgust
in this slow stretch of August
memories of a fruitless chase
love without the touch of grace.
Stifled now my wanderlust
in this slow stretch of August
For Grace’s MTB prompt: we are tackling the Ballata poetry form with its three set stanzas, two rhymes and a refrain. I’ve opted for the Italian heptasyllabic meter but unlike the literal translation of Ballata did not quite find the dance on the 6th syllable
PoetryPix 
An accomplished Ballata, Laura, with a wordplay title, those lovely droplets running through dust, and the ‘slow stretch of August’. It’s funny, summer is short but August seems to drag.
yes its strange that for the Ballata a very static poem emerges of stagnation and regret
The repeat line drags out the waiting for rain. It’s been bone dry here also the past week or so. What little rain falls in cloudbursts is quickly sucked right back out by grandfather sun.
that drag gives the poet time to reminisce and regret
I really feel the waiting, the need for a closure.
ah you picked up the poet’s mood so well
Clever title and I love the refrain of the slow stretch of August. Waiting for rain can be tiresome and you certainly set the moody frozen deadpan kind of tone. Love it!
thank you Grace and for the prompt – I guess the waiting for rain equates with the poet’s tears unshed in this retrospective
I really like the way you make time slow down with your words. (K)
thanks Kerfe – time to recollect
Love this Laura, so wonderfully, darkly melancholy — my favorite emotion these days! Excellent my friend. ✌🏼🫶🏼
My tendency too Rob – thank you for reading between the lines too
Such a powerful way to capture the unchanging slowness of August (my own least favorite month), Laura! Between the strong rhymes and passive verbs, your ballata really does compel us to reflect on the “stifling” slow pace of the month to come.
thank you for your observations – I’d not really noticed the passivity but it suits August and the contemplation of a past relationship
Nicely done!
many thanks Tina
That waiting can be killing. Love your choice of words to convey that feeling of slowness.
Thank you – gave time to think back
Atmospheric and gray with the pale touch of thought. Each line so beautifully evocative.
thank you for such a poetic comment Dora
Great write. August is not an immediate rhyme and you did it well.
Thank you too for noticing the rhymes
You’re such a master of all these forms, Laura, it always boggle my mind.
Have a wonderful summer break!
What a lovely encouraging comment / many thanks x
It’s sincere – and sorry about the typo…boggles. 😉
no apology necessary – your sincerity is so welcome
🙂