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Gasping For Droplets of Air

The day broke muggy and gray
  Dewdrops sizzle on gooey asphalt
    and burn holes in parched lawns  

Outdoors discriminates not between
  craftsmen's rank sweat and 
    day laborer's grime

Apartment-dwellers' tongues hang
  over their balconies, enervated
    gasping for droplets of air

Hell hath no Furnace like a city
  at the mercy of a heat wave
    without a Fire Escape

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Kim Rodrigues

Date: 6/10/2020 6:54:00 PM

That last verse...wow! And people used to cool themselves in malls, theaters and outdoor pools. What’s a body to do!

Caren Krutsinger

Date: 6/10/2020 11:16:00 AM

This sounds seriously like New York City to me, my friend. In August.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 6/10/2020 11:36:00 AM

At the entrance to NYC is posted this banner: "Welcome to Hell." ~ Little Devil

Mahtab Bangalee

Date: 6/10/2020 6:05:00 AM

excellent....superb enjoyable imagism

Gershon Wolf
Date: 6/10/2020 11:12:00 AM

Glad you liked this one, Mahtab. It is a little frightening, of course. Cheers, Gershon

Tom Cunningham

Date: 6/10/2020 2:34:00 AM

Great imagery Gershon, no chance of that here, we're more likely to get frostbite in the UK. Tom

Gershon Wolf
Date: 6/10/2020 11:10:00 AM

Ha, ha!... You know, I was in London once, for three+ days in 1977, August 24 - 27. I don't think the temperature topped 10 degrees Celsius; the fierce wind bit at me; slanting, stinging rain on and off the whole visit. Marvelous! ~ Sunshine Sam

Jenish Somadas

Date: 6/10/2020 12:25:00 AM

Great imagery Gershon.. Hell hath no Furnace like a city.. Beautifully penned..

Gershon Wolf
Date: 6/10/2020 11:02:00 AM

You and I are Shakespeare aficionados, I see! lol. Thanks, Jenish. Cheers, Gershon

Michael Tor

Date: 6/9/2020 10:28:00 PM

Great imagery Gershon. Reminds me of hells kitchen... Stay well my friend.

Gershon Wolf
Date: 6/10/2020 10:51:00 AM

Thanks for such an insightful comment, Michael. In a way, the eerie silence of downtown Chicago obscures the fire burning down the socio-economic heart of the city. Take care, Gershon