A Warm and Muggy, Mid-August Walk - Aug. 16, 2026

with leaden legs I lug

the fat and heavier meat

of my body

shirtless with flip-flops

and shorts, I’m as light

as I can possibly be

even to lift my eyes above

a sidewalk dusted with sand

and pebbles takes effort

every step says it can’t wait

to collapse its package

onto the sofa

this might not be the weather

but related to my lighter associates

still asleep

or at least I hope that’s the case

if joy or optimism had left and taken

all their friends on vacation

they would have told me,

right?