of the lines
I KNOW
the news covered it
I was planning to go at 1pm
doors were at 3pm
BUT
I heard on the news
that there was already a line
at 11am
SO
I went ahead and went earlier
I wore a jacket I have
with a bunch of pockets
so I wouldn't need
a purse at all
it was too HOT
I took it off
almost immediately
tied it around my waist
so my upper arms
we're exposed
& are pretty
BURNT
when the SUN
went behind a cloud
EVERY TIME
PEOPLE
CHEERED
the people RUNNING the EVENT
had HUGE stacks of WATER
& MEDICS
AND
I gotta tell you
they NEEDED them
BUT
it wouldn't be
UNUSUAL
NOT
to have them
there was a middle aged white couple
near me in line
after it was condensed and moving
EVERY time we stopped
the woman threw up
& the guy fell into the fence
they were flanked by two older black women
running support & interference
& I thought they were
LIKE a group
BUT
at the end of the line
they were LIKE
if we get separated
I just want to
THANK you
the white lady
was LIKE
at one point
I'm from NORTH TEXAS
& I'm not used to THIS
HOW
do you do THIS
I'm LIKE
NOBODY ever REALLY
gets used to THIS
& even those
of us who LIVE here
WE DON'T
stand outside in the HEAT
for five hours
I had said to someone earlier
LAST week
I THOUGHT FALL was finally here
it's not Halloween YET
came back at me
I KNOW
I've lived here fifty seven years
& I still have
WEATHER AMNESIA
SUMMER is
APRIL through OCTOBER
the pallets of water
the volunteers
we're walking around
handing them out
it was
INTENSE
