No Ice in China

We arrived in Central China

On a hot summer's afternoon

Thirsty and tired

After a long tedious train trip

To discover to our chagrin

That there was no ice to be found

In the whole interior of China

Someone offered us a cup of hot water to drink

But it did not seem satisfying

We found a vendor

And she offered us a bottle of warm soda

It was of no use to us

Sweating, smelling

I knew then it would be a long, long year