Ninety-five in the Shade

In the middle of a heat wave...

Temperature is visible,

shimmers on the concrete;

old swampland humidifies,

adding to the heat

 

The atmosphere so heavy,

a rock that weighs you down,

oppressive, Mother Nature’s drudge;

the air in which you drown.

 

Ice cream vans show up each day,

peddling cold treats;

block parties, whole weekends

of dancing in the streets

 

Tomatoes vine their way

up rusted chain-link fences;

the noise, the smells, the brightness ~

assaults to all the senses

 

Neighbors venture outside

for gossip on the stoop

while beer once cold will quickly melt,

warm hops and barley soup

 

For country folk who’ve never known

these joys ~ well that’s a pity;

It’s quite the hot experience,

summer in the city.

 

Author's Note

Philadelphia's residential streets are brick ovens during a heat wave... stay cool, my friends!

captcha: sorcer. Thought it said "scorcher" at first...

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

https://youtu.be/m648v4s5sFc

you and your captcha!! sorcer and sorcer all across the nation here it travels from the west and hits NY in about three days ... we had 20' pieces of highway that exploded and buckled .. perfect right now tho ..

"oppressive, Mother Nature’s drudge;
the air in which you drown."

about says it all! ...
E.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, E - today the humidity finally broke; it's a pleasant 85!

[Einstein Noodle]

so your a cool cookie eh!? ;)

[Sami Khalil]

A hot summer indeed with its oppressive heat but chances to enjoy the sun and sand along with ripe things that grow in it...Excellent...:)..................

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Sami! Summer is a relaxing time :)

[Sami Khalil]

So true. You are welcome. ...:).....

[Troy Henson]

Nothing like a hot summer at all.

Love the imagery here. How I wish for hot weather right now......its so cold here right now.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Troy - it's still pretty humid here today, but tomorrow promises to be a nice one!

[m.s.early]

Summer summer summer. Sounds like my neighborhood. I love to witness the changing of the seasons on this site in the work of its authors.

[Rita L. Sev]

That IS a fun aspect of the Cafe - Life unfolds here! Thanks, X! :)

[Lydia Shutter]

Singing to myself, "Hot town, summer in the city back of my neck getting dirty and gritty" I certainly can relate to your words here in South Florida, but we are used to this heat. Sitting on the stoop and gossiping with neighbors....that is something I have not done since living in Jersey. As always, great rhyming. Lydi**

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Lydi - that stoop-sit in summertime is how I know I'm home... :)

[TL Boehm]

warm hops and barley soup. The college breakfast. Yup. This is a great write!

[Rita L. Sev]

Warm and insipid, but we still drink it! Thanks, Tammy - glad things have cooled off some around here.

[redflutterby]

Summers gone pretty easy on us here in Virginia. The humidity can be a killer raising the heat index above 100 for weeks. Having been to California and Arizona I can tell you there is a difference between our heat and the dry heat out west. At least its easier to breathe when your outside there. Great poem Rita...

[Rita L. Sev]

We have had a few nice weeks lately - but we never escape summer without a few heat waves! Thanks, Red!

[s y e]

Ugh, this reminds me of when I live in Saudi Arabia - sooooo hot! But then I come to Scotland the sun is rare but recently we've had a heat wave and it is scorching hot! A lovely poem, Rita - as always.

~ Noodle.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thanks, Noodle! Our heat wave finally broke - but I think we're in for rain tomorrow... ah, summer... :)

[Debbie_Philly]

RITA !!! You really penned the summer in our city well !!! really great piece... and how about that heat wave .. ugggg.... lol Loved this !!

[Rita L. Sev]

SOOO glad that heat wave is over. I wanted to share that soup with everyone here... :) Thanks, Debbie! I knew you'd understand... ;)

[Pete Langley]

We`re getting a really steamy taste of this weather here in UK at the moment, Rita!....something that happens once in a blue moon here, so the novelty hasn`t worn off yet. This is a superb word portrait. P.

[Rita L. Sev]

Thank you, Pete. Trust me, we go through this every summer - the thrill is gone... :)