Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Summer Solstice
















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.

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Thank you for reading my poetry and sharing your thoughts.