We suffered record heat for half a week:
the wind reversed or absent, heavy air
beset with smoke, as if a weather freak
arose engendered by a low somewhere,
attacked, and we without AC tried fans
that proved their uselessness two days ago.
We iced our necks and cancelled any plans
for movement, as we ratcheted to slow.

September is our month to swelter dry.
The end of summer’s when our forests burn,
but lately is exceptional – we fry
in sun and braise in shade and pray return
of fog will come, foreshadowing the rain
we fantasize while sweating this week’s pain.