"Hot..."

By Keri Bugenhagen

A fresh pot of sweltering coffee, with its slightly bitter, robust-scented steam wafting heavily into the kitchen air as it brews. Standing near the steam is enough to make your face sweat and your sweater come off. It’s easy to take a sip of the roasted-bean beverage before it cools down, scorching your tongue and making the drink tasteless. In torrid weather, throw some ice cubes in your mug to bring the boiling temperature down.

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By Jacqueline Sanders

Sizzling and sweating,
Relaxing on the beach and forgetting,
Sun shining, blinding kids on the playground.