The billowing
Invisible pillows
Of oven air
Pressing
Surrounding
Attempting
To mollify
Liquefy or
Bake
A dense
Imperative to
Change state
Figures
Droop and
Drip
Bottled water
Is
Initially
Sipped
And
Then
****** at
With placid
Desperation
Until plastic vessel
Is an empty lung
That inhales with
A suctioned
Creak
Then exhales
Vapour
Breathing on lip’s
Sweat
That then slides
Down
Ever
Down
Pulled by
Under ground gravity
Forming
A river of
Consciousness
A blurring of
Memory and
Passive observation
Until everyone
Seems to be
Part of one
Melted mind
A slippery hive
Of semi-conscious cogs
Slowly turning
Turning
Forgetting where
Left is
Where right is
Instead
Moving forward
Pooling with the masses
As they slink
Forward
Up stairs
Through tunnels
Funnelled ever forward
Pushed out
Rising ever up
At pace with
Steam

Then
Then

Rush of wind
And
Out into the open air
Aware
Suddenly of
Sun
Clouds
Pavement
Nostrils
Filling
The feeling of
Remembering
A loosening
A separation
From the sweaty
Stream of commuters
A grounding
Knowing suddenly
Here
There
Here
Lip still sweaty
The wind blows cool

You pause

Then swept
Into another
Current
Of people
With a purpose
That can’t be gleaned
March on
March on
Till your front door

Then
Then

Hide as you slide down
Pressing your self
Against the solid dam
A shield against the rush
Another day is done

But
The city still sweats
Outside
Beneath the blanket
Of the season
Tossing turning
Fitful and full of
Floating dreams
And the glossy steamed
Mirage of a nightmare

Then
Then

You sleep