Wednesday, August 10, 2005

Sweet sweet summer





Popsicle Days

Mid-August and I sense it. A slowing.
The way summer shifts towards its end
in freeze-frame moments
as fall crooks a finger to pull us closer.
I feel the planet tilt
till time rolls down the other side.

I will relish these last popsicle
days, press the soles of my feet
against patchy grass worn into crop circles
by the underbelly of a plastic wading pool,
catch the breath of a distant thunderstorm
in my teeth.

I will hold your small butterfly
hands in mine and watch the trees
swim in the grass, the flowers sing
to the sky, the day
slip into night.




8 comments:

P. A. Moed said...

Lovely, Sharon. Yes, I can feel the autumn too, even though it's 93 degrees today! Enjoy these last few weeks of glorious summer.

Matt said...

Wow, what great imagery. Every now and then I read something that makes me anxious for my daughters to get a ltitle bit older so I can share it with them. That's exactly how I felt when I read this.

Sharon Hurlbut said...

Patti,

Whew - 93! It's been pretty hot for here, too, yet there's some subtle change in the quality of the light that tells me we're on the downhill side of summer. We're headed to the beach for three days this weekend to take advantage of what's left. Hope the rest of your summer is great too!

Sharon Hurlbut said...

Matt,

I think that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my writing. My own girls (ages 5 and 2) inspired this poem, and I have to admit, I stole the 'trees swimming in the grass' from my 2 year old. She'll probably want royalties later.

Thanks for your kind words!

Bev Jackson said...

This is SO lovely, Sharon! I love the crop circle (you clever girl) and the butterfly hands and time rolling down a tilted planet...absolutely LOVELY.

Sharon Hurlbut said...

Thank you, Bev, for your very kind comments. I'm so glad you liked this - I kind of like it myself, but it's hard to tell when it's your own work.

Patry Francis said...

I like the way the commonplace--the popsicles and plastic pools mixes with the magnificence of trees swimming in the grass, flowers singing to the sky...Just as it does in life. And yes, I can feel that butterfly hand in mine.

Great poem.

Sharon Hurlbut said...

Thank you Patry! Don't you love those moments when it all comes into focus? This was one of those for me.