Do you remember that day
that seemed to stretch on forever?
The sunlight streaming through the blinds
long before we even thought of opening our eyes…
We spent the day with family
three generations together;
us young ones playing tag and Red Rover
running, romping, chasing each other,
while in the background, adult voices murmured;
an occasional muffled burst as jokes were shared.
Hours passed. Stomachs growled
to the smells of charcoal starting
burgers sizzling, and marshmallows
toasted to golden perfection.
The afternoon stretched on for eternity...
evening hard-pressed to make an entrance,
the sun not wanting to cede the sky to moon.
It lingered, suspended over the western hills.
As daylight faded, we waded through hugs and good-byes,
finally heading home in the waning light
We listened as crickets sang their ode to the night
watching the fireflies appear flashing their secret code.
The sweet smell of roses mingled with fresh-mown grass
punctuated the evening air.
An occasional “How ya doing, tonight?”
was spoken in passing by neighbors on front porches
seeking reprieve from the heat of the day.
The buzzing of electric fans could be heard
through open windows along the way
as we trekked the familiar path home.
It all seemed so simple then, didn’t it?
—life through the eyes of a child
on the first day of summer.
© Ginny Brannan 2021
Image: from author's personal photos.
