From day until night you make an end of me

Eyes watch

as you send the scorching sun—
an army besieging a city.

There is nowhere it isn’t pressing in.
Dawn’s become sin, a damn shame.

Everything’s now aflame with your touch.
The sand, the pavement, the car door handle

all hold your anger. Shadows
have become strangers.

Shade offers no retreat
from the heat of your breath.

Hour by long hour our sloughs are slain,
drawn into the annals of hot air.

Not soon enough, dusk
greets our sorry stains—

the ones you step over
on your way to wherever you’re going.

And how long can those stay?
When you send in your city-sweeper

will that reaper cleanse all?
Raze everything up,

even I?

Published by asaur