A sticky mongrel-tongue —
this summer swelter;
I’m roped in the reek of course blankets
by a smothering wind;
the bare skin of my thighs sticks
to the creased vinyl of a rickly bar-chair as I reach
for the delusion of a tantalizing caperina,
stretching for that tempting dream of an imagined glass
centered in its rivulets of condensations;
but my hands sense dust and my throat is tender,
abrasive, filled with sand for a summer cold
more burning than the weather.
Heat by Erte
Today it’s Open Link Night Night at dVerse. I host and after today we will have a two week’s summer break. BTW I don’t have a cold at the moment, but I imagine how it could be in the heat-wave of today. Tomorrow it will cool off.
Björn Rudbergs writings 
Summer colds are the worst! I love your descriptions of the coarse blankets, the sand in your throat. I am glad you don’t have a cold! Our heat hits tomorrow. 94F today, 100F tomorrow.
Nothing worse than a summer cold. There’s one downstairs at the moment, lolling on the sofa. You capture the fever and discomfort very well.
You described the symtoms of one of my past summer virus’ so eloquently, Bjorn! Nice write!
Very well done… “as I reach // for the delusion of a tantalizing caperina…” It sounds as lovely a mirage as any!
Enjoyed the exquisite description!
So imaginative Bjorn!
Heat up that Caipirinha and it might be just what the dr. ordered! Any cold is miserable. Hope this one was fictional. Love that sticky mongrel tongue, but sorry you had to experience it from the inside out.
the contrasts are stark – coarse blanket/dry throat a great reference – and I like the paradox of a summer cold – so desirable in the ice cube but not in the virus
I can practically feel my thighs sticking to a leather seat reading this. Very much a moment everyone can relate to.
Your imagery is wonderfully vivid!
Yikes on that summer cold ~ Admiring the sensory images of that coarse blanket and creased vinyl ~ We are going to get the heat wave this weekend ~
I’m glad you don’t have a cold in real life though you’ve captured that wretched feeling precisely.
You had me convinced – excellent description.
Texture, tactile understanding of hot with a “cold”..complete with fever, aching, stickiness, and daymares feigning reality. Wow! That’s great writing!
Aha! Sounds like you have allergies… that raw burning throat is telling on you. Love the Summer swelter being like a mongrels wet tongue!
Dwight
Love the reality of that imagined glass dripping with condensation. I could feel the heat of the day and the great discomfort of the speaker.
Ah, this is such a realistic portrayal of a summer cold when there is no respite and the burning of the thirst is combined with the burning discomfort. The sandy, parched images make it a pretty thorough experience. Well-penned.
-HA
A summer cold … sounds oxymoronic but a real pain nonetheless. Glad I haven’t had one for years. Happy summer to you, Master Bjorn!
Great and vivid imagery here.
Oh I can FEEL so much in your words. Quite visceral.
LOVE this “the delusion of a tantalizing caperina,” Have had that drink and yes, it is quite refreshing and tantalizing too! Sometimes it is so sweltering that instead of drinking, I just hold the cold glass to my forehead! 🙂
Enjoy your break, my friend!
I hate a summer-cold! If you are not feeling well, I hope you will feel better soon.
Such detailed writing. The descriptions were very accurate, and resonating. Great poem!
filled with sand–perfect description, summer or winter (K)
Lovely weather here today, but next week we head to where it’s hovering around 100 degrees. Glad to hear your summer cold is only fictional. Those are the most miserable kind of colds.
This is gorgeous. I love this piece so much. I will come back to read it again.
Great description. I feel the heat of your discomfort. Take care.
Nice contrast in that burning cold.
Nothing worse than a burning summer cold, Bjorn, and you have expressed it to well with the ‘sticky mongrel-tongue’! I love the contrast of ‘that tempting dream of an imagined glass / centered in its rivulets of condensations’ and the dust and tender throat:
‘abrasive, filled with sand for a summer cold
more burning than the weather’..
From the poem, I was sure you must have a summer cold – so cleverly imagined!
Glad you clued us in that you really have no cold. I wondered. The image appears to be looking down your throat! Very graphic!
Those first two lines a re such a perfect description of summer heat. Predictions for 38 and 39 C temps for the next several days.
sand in the throat is a vivid image. It makes me think of swallowing the desert, whole.