Passing Summer
Summer is in full swing. Heat, humidity, thunderstorms (luv them), beer, boats, bbq’s, beaches. And just when I thought it would last forever something happened to remind me that the end is just around the corner.
It was Saturday night. There were steaks on the grill and cocktails in hand when Karilyn mentioned that she had seen Halloween pumpkins and school supplies on sale at the store earlier in the day. Right then and there my summertime bubble burst. I felt as if someone woke me up during a really good dream.
School supplies? Pumpkins? Already? UGH!!
We spent a good half hour discussing how sick it is to have Halloween stuff in the stores at this time of year before resuming normal conversation.
On Sunday morning I found this poem taped to my office door.
On a quiet beach somewhere on Long Island’s north fork.
Passing Summer
by Karilyn Drago
Already shadows grow longer,
night falls more quickly
creeping up on me, as a lover from behind.
Tree frogs call to one another,
sing the melody while crickets chirp the backbeat
and the spider spins her silken web.
A hot July, air barely breathable,
gives way to these cool evenings
with August yet ahead.
It is a false promise, yet a welcome respite – lie to me.
Today I saw school supplies, pencils and notebooks, alongside pumpkins and scarecrows upon the shelf
whispering of cooler days to come.
Not yet, but soon.
I am not ready to concede, oh no, not yet.
Thirty days and more ‘til Labor Day.
It will be hot again.
Summer, firm in her grasp will claim me once more,
unwilling to yield to September and beyond.
I pour another glass of Chardonnay
and toast the summer stars
as they cling to the coal sky –
the overture –
before Cassiopeia and the golden leaves of her
evening gown.
It’s a beautiful poem…I feel this way too…and I remember having some similar conversation about the absurdity of seasonal sales, putting you in the “soon it will be” state of mind, instead of letting one enjoy the very moment.
Especially for me, this will be the shortest summer ever.
ok, stop, or I will become sentimental here.
Enjoy August, it is still beautiful!!!
Comment by Marianna — August 5, 2010 @ 10:29 am
Speaks to me!! Have these same thoughts every August. Wish the stores did not rush the seasons. Let us savor the joys of each day. Fall will truly be upon us soon enough.
Comment by marylin — August 7, 2010 @ 3:28 pm
The other nasty side effect of all this is, if I need a pair of shorts or bathing suit in mid-summer I can’t find one because they’ve already stocked the shelves with fall clothes.
Comment by Bill — August 8, 2010 @ 7:24 am
The seasons do pass very fast, especially when you get on up in years. My wife and I saw scare crows already on sale at a store two weeks ago. It seems big business does this all year, every year, just to make money. They rush the seasons along too fast. They don’t know how to enjoy the times as they move along on their own. When the people who run big business get on up in years, then maybe they will learn to let time go by as it should be. Time is precious and we should enjoy each season as it moves along. Great poem Ka, Mom and I loved it.
Comment by Tony — August 9, 2010 @ 10:34 am