A slope of rising road br gains on the pair of us - br forcing silence. br Dusty birds and drunken bees br seem dazzled and frustrated br in the grating heat. br Wings and feathers br weather the jagged day br in short bursts and slowly. br Our imaginations fail, br again, to summon cool times. br br Summer aggravates. br Midges bite and die; br spent on your glistening skin. br br Blisters bubble; br subcutaneous lakes of irritation br itching like the scumbled day.