HEATWAVE

It was one of the hottest goddamned mornings ever

Nothing was moving that didn’t have to

Sweat was rolling down that crevice

Between my shoulder blades

as

I walked directly down the sidewalk

Three sit on a stoop of low income apartments

caught in escalating conversation

All unshaved and raspy

Showing

just showing who they are

They talk pistons and politics

Mix them up like tossed salad

They were so

intense

Around the corner

These two in front of me pushing a swanky stroller

slowly, like a hot day makes you do

Her legs shaved clean as could be

Showing

just showing who she was

They were so

casual

They eye a bench for sale at Finders Keepers

She tells him it would look good in their front yard

I picture it in a field of high grasses and wild flowers

Full of ticks

just full of ticks

Gabrielle Rilleau