Digging in a dry dirt

a little poof of smoke springs up
snatching moisture from my tongue
wrinkling my nose I fend off the dry suffocation

sweat beads and trails down my brow
teasing me with thoughts of summer days
spent splashing in the lake

the blisters on my palm stings as the skin splits
sweat and grit grind deeper into the sensitive creases
the callus on my thumb peels and cracks

I glance up
still no relief
the sun lingers

the ground is parched
lack of rain will do that to dirt
nothing grows

no roots to impede my digging
unfortunately
HA, if only I had had to dig post holes here

My lower back aches from this bent work
my shoulders protest the constant push and heave
bare feet send jolts of pain with every move

another glance at the sun
not a cloud to help protect
my burning shoulders and back

I deserve each salty burn of sweat on naked skin
every agonizing moment of suffocating dryness
regret is too late

the collar on my neck bites deep
the prongs strike my nerves
gasping I fall to my knees

'hurry up' a slight voice yawns
I glance up and see her
she used to be such a small child

but she grew up
I should have thought about that before...