Mercury’s climbing. Still a phrase, though

No mercury in thermometers anymore

Up up up

It hits you like a wall

Wraps around and smothers

You push through the thick, soupy heat

Leaching moisture from your body

Energy from your limbs

Head pounds in protest

Body sweats out its life

Hottest day on record, they say

But life still goes on

Demanding business as usual

Waiting for the record to break again

As the world fries in a hellfire

That’s all too human