Feeling the heat hang in the air
I can feel the thickness of it 
in my lungs, and my whole body
It has me retreating inside
where the air is cooler and it
is easier to breathe

I wish that I could escape 
the stress of my circumstances
as easily as I can escape the heat
but that’s ok, because
I have discovered that I am stronger
than my circumstances and despite
the fact that they are stifling,
I can learn to acclimate myself
and educate myself, 
which makes me even stronger