HEATWAVE

First published in August 2022

No doubt
we’ll look back,
muffled-up
heaters on full blast
and we’ll be unable
to believe
the heat, this fierce
in-your-face
uncompromising
unblemished sunshine,
this August drought,
rivers drying up, shallows
where lakes should be,
shrivelled yellow lawns

No doubt
it will go down
in the Do you remember
that summer month
when every day
was hot as hell? file
in our collective memories,
days like today
when we wear as little
as we can get away with
and stay decent,
days to keep doors open
and curtains closed,

days to drink iced water
instead of rose wine.