Vicki Miko

On the road

summer retreat
takeout lunch and a cab tour
of central park

Don’t worry, your nose will acclimate to the dust. Just drift toward the peppercorn and sagebrush edge, due north. Watch out for snail shells, sea foam and horse drool. Notice your cadence will quicken past the skunk cabbage or an occasional sunning rattler. Whiptail lizards will accompany you for a stare then skitter-cross under the poison oak. Roadrunners will not catch and eat goldfish, although fire ants will. Step high because boulders and rocks won't see you coming. Bring only water: one bottle for you and one to share just in case. Leave no trace. At the end, you’ll own the stump chair in the shade if you’re lucky. You’ll loosen your neon laces. Your calves will tighten in a good way, strong and new. The air on sweet sweat will feel refreshing when you take off your new cap. It won’t be new anymore.

heat rash
scratched your day
a missed deadline