When The Heat Is High

When the Heat Is High

Open the windows

let the breeze in,

even if it smells like regret

and the neighbour’s curries.

Wash frequently.

Unclog.

Scrub off the grime.

You’ll be amazed

how much lighter you feel

exfoliated.

Take a chill pill.

Let off steam.

Drive an ice pick

into years of bottled freeze.

Kill a quarrel, coldly.

All’s fair in heat

and humidity.

What am I scribbling here?

Avoid fire and friction.

Slice a cucumber.

Place it gently

on your flaming tongue.

It will wilt fast 

Avoid feelings.

Retreat into a watermelon

with Wi-Fi.

Rub aloe vera

on all the blisters.

Unspool.

Don’t stay tightly coiled.

Don’t hoard heat.

Spread yourself thin.

Expose your belly

to a touch of air.

Do not cook.

Do not pan anything.

Do not boil.

Anything grilled, roasted

is also a crime.

Emulate a fridge.

Don’t fret.

Don’t fry or cry.

If you melt, just melt.

No apologies.

Ooze across the floor,

in rivulets

until you find a corner

dark and cool.

There, collect

calmly, in a pool,

Autumn will show up

with snow in her hair.

Reviews

[LisaCarol]

Very engaging poem. I’m not a fan of summer, I don’t like the heat and prefer the winter. This poem helps remind me, Autumn will return with snow in my hair (thank goodness). Fabulous piece that I’ll save and read over and over. Thank you for sharing your writing.

[DIVYA]

Thank you so much LisaCarol!
I'm so glad this poem struck a chord. I love winter too. Here's wishing it comes to us, soon. 💐

[John the Baptist]

On the surface, this one reads like an anti-heat manifesto. Actually, though, I believe all of the imagery is a plea for calm. When we are stressed, when we are irritated, it is like a pot of water headed for a boil. Love the line that reads "If you melt, just melt." This is a call for nonresistance. The more you resist people and situations, the more you are stoking the fire.

[DIVYA]

And I really love your review. Thank you so much, dear John. 💕

[Neha agrawal]

This is brilliant—funny, sharp, and sneakily profound. It reads like a survival guide for both heatwaves and emotional meltdowns. The metaphors—curries of regret, slicing cucumber on a flaming tongue, retreating into a watermelon with Wi-Fi—are hilariously relatable and oddly soothing. There's a quiet wisdom in "If you melt, just melt. No apologies." It gives permission to feel, without shame.

The ending—"Autumn will show up / with snow in her hair"—wraps it in hope. Like all storms, all heat, even the internal ones, this too will pass. Genuinely loved it. It's playful and poetic with a hint of rebellion.

Note:-*And my comment is not AI generated as people says and those who have doubts can check on AI detector*

[DIVYA]

Dear Neha,
Thank you so much for commenting in-depth on this poem. I'm humbled you made the effort and gave it the attention. Your review is encouraging and very heartening for me because just as you, I'm a learner too, looking for feedback. Bless you my friend and have a wonderful day.
🌹

[jacob erin-cilberto]

I like this "how to" on how not to let life pile up on us.
Regrets can weigh us down so much and you gave us methods to relieve that weight.
No apologies, just be who we are.
I love the last two lines..."Autumn will show up/ with snow in her hair."
She does doesn't she?

[DIVYA]

Indeed, after all that heat, its a welcome chill. I like autumn too. Though we have a very light one here in India. Thank you for appreciating this poem, dear Jacob.

[Sapphus]

Brings down the mercury quite a bit and then some. Well written.

[DIVYA]

Thank you very much for appreciating this poem, dear Sapphus.