summer ice

Crunch up foothills
Swelter sweat, dust

Birch leaves rattle

Brief moments of clouds, paralyzed in blue
Squint

Brief moments of clouds, paralyzed in blue; Photo by Mister M on Unsplash

Feet ache, my poor bunion toe

Ration water
Heart starts to slow

To-dos crumble

Thighs sting, the climb
The path by the pond

A sign sticks out

Warning
ice isn't safe