The day is a burning desert
with no rain to ease the pain
or even soften our tension.

No animals out and about
but one broken bird
that can no longer chirp.
It just lays on the side
of our overheated highway
as it flutters and tries
to survive this
summertime drought.

Hot mud turns to dry dust
which I choke and cough up
while the black top parking lot
scorches my bare feet
cause I was trying to see
how tough I could be
but ended up blistered in defeat.

I am exhausted,
If I had the water to,
I would weep,
but this week has defeated
the better parts of my hopeful heart
that I once believed
I would always find a way to beat
this scorching summer heat.