New York City, May 5, 2015

★★★★ Thin clouds took the most intense solar warmth off the mild morning air. Downtown, midday, the sun was burning through. The new-planted tree where the jimsonweed had been was belatedly putting out tiny leaves. The towering maples by St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral were full-crowned. A dead rat lay pressed flat on new pavement, chopped red spreading out behind its furry back. The iced-coffee taps on the fourth and third floors hissed and spat foamy dregs. Clouds returned to temper the sun and threatened, obliquely, to perhaps do more. Where the open front of a restaurant spilled out onto the sidewalk, sloppy beachwear was showing. Rush hour was gray and seemed quenched even without rain. The rat had been flattened more and blackened till only its tail still identified it.