Against an indifferent blue,
the clouds are brighter,
a harder white,
than even a few years back.
The air’s seared earlier
in the mornings now;
one can taste it, raw,
at the back of the throat.
Before midnight,
sunset brings small relief;
and even then, morning’s
heat breaks early.
Lizards, not here before,
skitter across the rocks.
(June 6, 2025)
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