'The Heat': San Ramon Has Talent

SAN RAMON, CA — The entire country has been baking under an unrelenting heatwave for weeks, and it's not getting cooler any time soon. San Ramon resident Philip Henika wrote a poem called "The Heat" to reflect on the heat, and the recent extreme weather all over the world.

I went down
To the ocean,
To the beach,
Fish piled
On top
Of each other,
Stressed,
Flopping,
Mouths open wide
For their last gasps.

It doesn’t look right.
The storied smoky pines,
The charred ruins
Stretch
As far as the eye can see
To our new horizon.

I have seen nothing like it
Say those who suffer.
Say those who run
From the fires.
Say those who crouch
In basements.
Say those forced to listen
While the strongest tornado
From the warmest waters
Shatters their homes and dreams.

I stayed inside
Because of the hail.
I stayed inside
Because of the smoke.
I stayed inside
Because of the wind.
I stayed inside
Because of the heat.

If you'd like to submit original creative work, email Michael.wittner@patch.com.