It’s hot as the hinges of Hell, they say. 
Maybe so, but I’ve never been there.
Yet.
Those hinges must be made 
of very hard stuff not to melt.

Best not to sweat in this heat. 
Water on Hell’s hinges would turn to steam.
and scald us like boiled owls.

But we’re tough old birds too.
We’ll sweat it out and try not to drip on the hinges.

        July, 2010 (A record hot summer