Dog Days Poem by Ima Ryma

'Dog Days' of summer is a phrase
Coined from old Roman and Greek lore,
About July through August days,
Filled with superstition galore,
When human body, mind and soul
Was at the mercy of the heat.
All sorts of ills could take their toll.
From year to year 'twould just repeat
Such disasters from 'dog days' bite.
But not a dog of puppy kind,
But the dog star bright in the night
Was human matter over mind.

'Twas Orion's dog, Sirius,
At its brightest causing such fuss.