"

Stranded in August

The weather was a pattern of hot and hotter
The days crossed each other
Knitted together with bleached sunlight
Air that makes you sneeze
From the dry irritated skin of your nose
Then cough because you sneezed

I have been lost in the desert
Stuck in my baked little house
The air conditioner pulsing with effort
The walk to the mailbox at the corner
Enough to give me a headache
Especially if the box was empty

There was one day
Just one
When it rained
And I made the walk in the rain
Just to be outdoors in something other than
Sharp
Hot
Blue
Skies
I ran my hand through my short wet hair
And even though the box was empty
I didn’t mind

"

J.C. Hewitt