Harlem Heat Wave

by E. Denison

August is the tropics
On the D Train platform
Hottest air and sweat mix
Drives you insane, that warm

Desperate for the next train
And its sidekick windstorm
Respite in the refrain
Of the fried-sick, thinned swarm

Of the local masses
Choosing cool way, C Train
And their vocal passes
Musing to stay, remain

All the stops and then some
While the air is flowing
Stall the heated outcome
Though the fare is growing

Numbers make it tougher
But the riders behave
Trying not to suffer
From the Harlem heat wave

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Rhyming Poem contest entry

I was looking to experiment with a tight rhyming scheme with minimal syllable count to reflect the heat, claustrophobia, and building pressure you feel waiting for the subway in late summer. When you're heading downtown you sometimes have to choose taking the express (D train) or keeping on the air-conditioned local (C train), where you're out of the heat for longer.

Image credit: jqpubliq (Flickr via Creative Commons: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jqpubliq/17063508788/in/photolist-e8dJdr-5xFB75-cuySNd-duvJWJ-e8jpxy-6kK7Nj-kk39a1-eeo8uM-dZJcoK-e4zsYH-d5a6j1-Vy25Yu-ebnMAV-rZQWFo-ebnMMP-dHP9pn-e4ztxg-e96ziR-ebtrjW-e4xtCC-ebUrNk-e4zt1k-7Upg35-cuyU5j-igbr8o-2cJ5dcP-dR56DJ-e783qf-dH2Sah-5DQHL4-Tdnofs-2cXcUMV-e5XNvn-e8BFiJ-hgHqde-oVd4tC-cktf1s-duq9Ga-e64DVC-6tHp2P-dZJwAB-e5XT4F-i8V2Wr-cuzigL-e2JXGP-cdwBAG-e9kFgE-URL56w-cuyhrm-W94SYc)

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C Train or D Train - What a Difference a Letter Makes

Harlem Heat Wave

by E. Denison

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