When the Elder Gods of Summer first met the sun,
it left a briny tinge upon their tongues, because everyone
went to the ocean and threw themselves into the water.
They sacrificed themselves to a new God they called Heatwave,
and the Elder Gods called for a war.
Desperation clamored their palms and they bellowed
until the air grew heavy in their rage, while the sun
became larger and larger, and this new God, Heatwave-
plucked the elders’ rage and confusion from the sky.
It dressed their emotions into brighter rays and humidity
and the people scurried inside to hide
behind magical fans and blackout curtains.
Elder Gods of Summer wanted their season of fun
and reckless abandon, but Heatwave gripped the sun
and shook it in the elder gods’ faces with ruthless amusement.
The Elder Gods of Summer wailed with grief until their tears
gathered into large, roaring clouds and with snap crackle spark-
they struck down Heatwave with fists of rain and wind.
And the people with ease and contentment, they crowded the alters
at the beaches, the parks, the city pools, and nightclubs,
and the Elder Gods settled in their seasonal thrones
of sunscreen, flip flops and limitless selfies.
Poetic Trials 