The Retreating of Summer

Summer's Curtain Call

Coolest, dewy mornings' greeting

September's scorching days ~

Top 'o the morning chill

Afternoon fiery sun.

Languishing season, morphs to Fall's scurry

Austere college beckoning chimes

foreshadow academic concerns.

Children's shrill voices - icy blue pools

Maturing to playground roughness.

Muffled din at malls,

beaches' spirited games stilled.

Cafeteria food now,

Farewell backyard burgers

and potato-salad noons.

Coffee-shop bistros

reprieving corporate fare.

Eve's threshold dew,

ushers still September; frozen August...

gleaning ghostly locusts,

dried watermelon seeds

from fading memory.

Lamenting Spring, fearing Fall

Greens, Yellows, Pinks

Muted Tans, Golds, Oranges

Fireflies extinguished

Night-sounds of August

A final farewell.

Tender bidding

Dignity of a queen,

Professor adjourns ~

Proverbial baton....passed on...

Summer's promise

Gone to November wind.

Frosty mailboxes

sleighbells jingle.

Cocoa steaming

Consoling us.

A while longer.