popsicle stick melting in the driveway chalk lines fade into pale dust humidity presses down like a blanket pool water shivers in the heat haze bare feet on cracked cement shadows stretch thin across the fence the hum of cicadas feels endless like a radio left on in another room chlorine on my skin chlorine in my hair i can’t remember if summer was ever this still afternoon slides into evening the air tastes like metal and sunburn hands in the water, drifting like they’re reaching for something gone chlorine on my skin chlorine in my hair i can’t remember if summer was ever this still
