Sunny American Day

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Dec 3, 2025

Steg #36.3

Illustrated by Steg

I lay in a vapid parking lot

hot,

stale,

syrupy air thickens in my lungs.

My picnic blanket feels scratchy under my knees-

lukewarm water bottle,

chips,

gnats,

this is the life.

I adjust my bikini top, lean back, look around-

scattered cars, shopping carts,

quiet friends, loud crows,

sweltering,

empty–

bubbling popping pavement like a cauldron.

This is all I’ve got.

The rivers and plains ain’t got nothing on this…

this is the paradise we built.

-steg