Too Hot to Handle

by Christopher Patchel and Michael Dylan Welch

Written by email in March 2010, and first published in Haijinx 3:1, December 2010.

dog days

the wait until dusk

to water the lawn Christopher

my can of soda

sweating too Michael

a double scoop

melting faster

than I can lick Christopher

honeymoon

the steering wheel

too hot to handle Michael

the white circles

our sunglasses shaded Christopher

lost . . .

heat shimmers

ripple the freeway Michael