Once again,
in the height of summer
mountains shrink behind
curtains of haze
conjuring the familiar dread
of winter’s opaque skies
But it’s different, ominous
the way the sky brims
milk-white
replacing the meticulous
clear blue of
Seattle summer sky
Collectively we wonder,
the air feeling thicker
than usual, if this is
our new normal
The dim sun pressing
neon rays through
layers and layers
of crispy trees,
houses, anything
flammable
fog up the windows 