(inspired by Savannah, Georgia– June 2024)
Sweet Tea
It is not even 7AM when I awake from the heat,
a sliver of moisture already coating my upper lip.
Bedside fan is no help–
the humidity is a second blanket: unnecessary, yet impossible to take off.
Outside, cicadas still hum their summery tune,
soon to silent as they take shelter in the Spanish moss.
It is a short walk to River Street, where I hear foghorns bellow
a rise and shine to the city.
Who says it is too early to have sweet tea before eight?
Said no one.
I especially like peach flavoring, as saccharine as the fruit
when it’s ripe like July,
the drink is a sigh of relief from this heat clinging to my forehead,
my cotton sleeves, pants et al.
I could spend hours here, with glorious A/C
feathering my hair, sipping sweet honey through a straw
and making conversation with locals asking where I’m from
wishing this slow, sweltering summer
wouldn’t melt away
© Rebecca Goes Rendezvous, 2024

A nice hot steaming cup of “Rosey Lee”. Nothing better!
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Yum! Sounds nice and cozy 😊
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That heat & humidity sounds oh too familiar! Thank goodness for cold drinks and air conditioning
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I’m sure you can relate! Heat and humidity are not my friends. Thanks for reading, Elle!
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Great poem! The Georgia heat is no joke.
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Thanks, Lyssy! Georgia heat is certainly in its own category!
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That’s a beautiful poem, Rebecca 🙂 What can be better than a sweet tea served ice cold when it is hot as biscuits down there. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx
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Absolutely! Not only is sweet tea refreshingly cold, but also sugary and delicious! I could go for sweet tea right now, even though weather’s colder, haha. Thanks for reading, Aiva 🙂
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Great poem! I love the line about the humidity.
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Thank you! And yes, Georgia humidity is no joke!
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Very evocative Rebecca. There is a warmth (not related to the temperature) and positivity to your poem Rebecca that made me smile. And oh boy would I love to visit Savannah one day.
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Thank you so much, Leighton! I’m glad you enjoyed the poem. Savannah is a lovely place, even with the heat!
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How lovely 🙂
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Thanks, Han!
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Sorry I missed this gorgeous poem two weeks ago. I was on the road driving 7 hours to Minnesota! : ) Your poem brings me right into the moment of sweet tea and sweat. Well written.
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Thanks, Rebecca! I’m glad you enjoyed the poem, and I hope it evokes the summer heat and sweet tea that comes along with it 😊
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Yes, I could taste the tea and feel the perspiration. We’re holding onto summer here as it slips out the back door (40F at night).
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Lovely! I’m just getting up now to make myself one =)
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Yum! Enjoy 😋
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You have beautifully captured a lounging morning moment.
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Thanks, that means a lot! I appreciate you reading 🙂
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This is excellent!
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