Melting Into Night (Poetry)

There is no let up
the thermometer
displays no pity
continues to climb
tops the ninety-nine

That fierce orange ball
we all rely on
for our existence
clearly no friend now
boils the very air

We’ve such poor defence
against bad weather
extreme heat or cold
both are enemies —
pick off young or old

We wilt like plants
and feel our sap dry
desperate for rain
yet obdurate sky
denies small mercies

Day melts to a blur
tired-of-ticking clocks
hardly register
Fate’s slow iceberg knocks
across night’s ocean