DEVON BALWIT

Aphelion in July

The earth is at aphelion, yet wheezes heat,
today the hottest day after the hottest day
after the hottest day on record.

At our moment of farthest orbit,
air conditioners whirr as the sky
singes the canopy. Street crows gape

near pans of tepid water I refill
though I never see them drink.
Even the raspberry drupes mummify,

reabsorbing like clam gonads
in the warming oceans. Too hot for sex,
we lie spread legged before our fan,

shivering at each passing air-kiss.
The dog chuffs from the floor
like our celestial ferry, which will circle on

without missing us
until the distant day
the sun swallows it.

Devon Balwit walks in all weather and has recently taken up life-drawing and cartooning. When not teaching, she copy edits for Asimov Press. Her most recent collection is Spirit Spout (Nixes Mate Books, 2023). For more of her work, visit:  https://pelapdx.wixsite.com/devonbalwitpoet