Sizzling oppression
The air is still and heavy
Sky glares overhead
In Indiana, the heat and humidity make the air seem like a living thing, a suffocating, scalding weight against your body. Your mind cries out for a cool breeze and cold water. Insects buzz incessantly and you are the candy they crave. Summer isn’t a season for the faint of heart.

© Lisa Paul All Rights Reserved
https://dversepoets.com/2025/06/23/haibun-monday-6-23-25-summer-or-winter/
Your photo is beautiful.
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Thank you!
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In Tom Petty’s Mary Jane’s Last Dance, he sang, “Indiana summer on an Indiana night” and this song was originally titled Indiana Girl.
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Oh wow, I didn’t know this! That’s so cool, thank you for sharing this. Thank goodness it cools off in the evenings.
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Very well done, Lisa.
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Thank you so much!
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You are very welcome!
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I like how you explained the heat and humidity as a living thing. It’s not supposed to get too humid here in Oregon. But today is “bugging” me a little bit. Lol. Take care Lisa.
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Thank you so much. Good luck dodging the bugs – lol
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Beautiful photo. I like how you describe the air as a living thing. Humidity can be so oppressive.
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Yeah, the humidity is no joke. But I know many people suffer through this.
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Nice descriptions…good to have that warmth..
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Thank you!
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I’m sitting here in a cool breeze and your haibun is making me feel hot, Lisa! I couldn’t cope with heat and humidity that ‘make the air seem like a living thing’. I agree, summer isn’t a season for the faint of heart!
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Thank you, Kim. I’m glad it isn’t like this all the time.
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It is too cold for me right now… but this sounds so much worse.
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Thank you! Thankfully it’s not always this awful, we have heat waves and we are in day 8 day of one right now.
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I wouldn’t survive in such heat, for sure. You clearly love the place though, your writing is evidence of it.
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It is true, I do love Indiana ❤️
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You skillfully evoke the effect of summer heat and humidity perfectly!
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Thank you very much, Frank!
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