High Over Head

High Over Head

Sweltering humid heat

From a blistering sun

High over head

Chases one to the shade

Or inside for a cold glass of water

Or to the nearest water

To dunk the body

Cool the head

Escape liquid air in a sea

Diving under with the fishes

And being copied by the pelicans

Splashing in from above for food

Despite sweltering humid heat

That chases the clothing

Off women’s bodies

Heat that forces

Them to walk bare skinned

Cloaked only in airy cover ups

Moving along

Hot sand or hot cement

To cook their skin on the beach

Or to breath again

In the crowded

Cool supermarket

Avoiding the

Sweltering humid heat

Or basting in it

And seniors choose

The cooler moments

In the shadows of morning

To crawl and

Wade in warm pools

And exercise limbs while

Hiding from the

Blistering sun

Not yet, High over head

To soak up the warmth

Of crystal blue water

To limber and loosen

To breathe outside air

For a time before

It becomes liquid

Too heavy for the lungs

And they escape back

To air conditioned apartments

Blinds drawn to

Avoid the sweltering numid heat

Of a blazing afternoon

To breathe and wait for the evening

Balmy with ocean breezes

Air passing easily

In lungs of seniors

Couples with dogs

Parents with baby strollers

Free to walk

And talk hidden from

A blistering sun

Resting for tomorrow

To return

And cover residents with

Sweltering humid heat

From a blistering sun

High over head