August in the South

I know there are a lot of other places way hotter than here, but I've never experienced such a heat as I have in southern Georgia. It's different from anywhere I've ever lived before. Lately, it's been raining quite a bit, so it's moist, very humid and stifling hot. It just feels very, very strange to me and my body does not react favorably to this climate as is evidenced by my recent diagnosis of RAD (Reactive Airways Disease.) I can't seem to find enough oxygen to breathe in this heat. The ironic part is that for a cold-weather-gal, I sure manage to end up living in hot places. Here are my thoughts about August in Georgia: AUGUST Suppressing heat - still - silence Except for the Cicadas Step outside and choke On the heat and odor of musk and mold Heat’s got me by the throat Stifling my breathing Making me cough Weighing heavy, pressing hard I'm so tired before I even start Nothing is thriving, but merely surviving Hanging on, waiting, hoping to endure The cruelest of months in the South Survival of the fittest Scavenging insects circling low to the ground Wasps - yellow flies Looking for remnants of discarded food August heat - lingering - lasting Every living thing Is barely hanging in Or hiding out - waiting for relief Dying cricket twitching on the sidewalk Old age? Poison? Heat stroke? Walk on by - go inside with your dog Into the air conditioning and ride it out Living your life from the inside out Waiting for August heat to subside It's a slow and agonizing ride