Sweltering post-rain like a Mississippi midday
The city on the water reclines and mops
Its industrial, rain-flecked brow, away
Goes carefree sun drinking, here instead flops
Of sweat, squeezed out on tired faces
Summer drenches cling and wrap heat upon heat
Each sigh a black storm of anger, wishing to be cool
And relaxed, not breathing the evening air thick as gruel
Jagged with exhaust roars, sinking ever more deep
Into sunlight-at-midnight dream gorged sleep
With languid power in the humid haze
Where bars of sunset twist in rainbow hues
One ripple in each puddle showing upsided views
Darkening pale orange clouds and ice cream blues
As I walk down the street birds chirp, heavy leaves sway
And sometimes volley the barely-there breeze
My way, through my window wrenched steamily wide
I see the rim of a petrol station drum raindrops, trees
Wilt like grandparents, light impishly hides
In pockets around shop corners or terraced divides
Or peeping through thick purple grey clouds
Rumbling away, rolling away, warping the ground up
Beside the shadows of candy-striped dusk they found us
Stealing as much coolness apple juice allows
All things in soft focus, electrified by the douse.
@nepion_boreas17
