Mourning Summer

Posted: Thu, Jun 02 2011, 1:02 pm Post subject: Mourning Summer

I am mourning these days.

I am mourning summer.

Summer is

the sweet scent of

freshly mown grass

nose-tingling chlorine

potent sunscreen

juicy meat on charcoal.

Summer is

the gentle caress of

warm sunlight on dark wet skin

campfire heat radiating onto soft cheeks on a cool night

a mild hair-tousling breeze.

Summer is

the vision of

leaping, graceful deer

the vastness of the star-spangled sky

a never-ending stretch of green mountains

bright ashes rising upward before they flicker and descend.

Summer is

the sound of

chirping crickets at night

the distant thwack of a baseball bat

voices soaring in harmony

noisy, happy splashing.

Summer is

freedom

relaxation

flexibility

and belonging.

Summer is

light blue

soothing green

and earthy brown.

Summer is

nostalgia.

Summer is

youth.

Summer is not Work, or Bills, or Burden.

Summer is not Same Old.

Sigh.

I guess we all need to grow up eventually.

I�m getting there, slowly.

But for now, I pray that my children have Summer too.

Cross-posted from my blog because I thought some of you might relate.

Executive Member Joined: Jul 16 2009 Posts: 477

Oh boy can I relate! As a child, I lived for the summer. From May to October, I lived outdoors, riding my bike, swimming,etc. I still do enjoy summer, but it is so different. I work every day, same as winter. Bike riding days and freedom, so to speak are gone. But I too, hope my young children will have summer as I remember it. Loved this.

Silver Member Joined: Nov 01 2010 Posts: 792

Me too.

My best memories are from the summers I spent up in the mountains as a child.

I literally used to dream about it all year long.

Thanks for sharing.

Diamond Member Joined: Jun 09 2009 Posts: 3326

I've been wishing I was back in the country already. Your poem makes me feel like I'm already there. (I wish.) My best childhood memories are of our summers in the country, and it's still the highlight of my year. I guess I'm still a kid at heart.

Executive Member Joined: Jan 04 2011 Posts: 361

I try to create summer memories right here in the sweltering city.

My kids and I recently planted a vegetable garden. We had a blast.
I make the little ones a kiddie pool. It's a blast.
Nearly every day they bike on the block and love it!
Fridays I prepare everything early and take them biking in the park. Or we play ball all together in the park.
Sidewalk chalk for the little ones.
July and August we try to go away every Sunday.

I actually love it.

Gold Member Joined: Oct 25 2009 Posts: 2356 Location: here

def relate

Posted: Mon, Jun 13 2011, 3:00 am Post subject: re: Mourning Summer

I guess when you no longer have children of school age summer just means sweat, sweat and more sweat. Also tempers from the heat, the constant threat of wars which always break out here in the spring, summer and fall, and other such things.
Summer is a pain. Winter is a pain, spring and fall bring allergies.
The facts of life.
_________________
"Olam Chessed Yiboneh", Tehilim 89.

Diamond Member Joined: Nov 29 2010 Posts: 2922

why are you mourning summer now instead of in the fall when it is over?
as a kid summer was all those things... summer is still more relaxing these days but not as much a difference as back then... in the summer the hardest thing for me is the heat...

Posted: Mon, Sep 05 2011, 2:36 am Post subject: re: Mourning Summer

Just read this.

I totally relate, especially now that it's over and I feel like I never had any break.

I am not usually this negative, but I am SO depressed about starting a new year right now.

Sigh.

Platinum Member Joined: Nov 04 2008 Posts: 8179

It is a beautiful poem.
_________________
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you
And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

Diamond Member Joined: Jun 09 2009 Posts: 3326

Summer

There was a time I lived in peace,
Basking in the blazing sunshine.
Fresh air and blue cloudless skies,
Rolling green hills so very fine.

Living in a broken down shack
With gaping holes between the walls,
My shower was a small, cold trickle
Shared with bugs: some fly, some crawl.

Every sound my neighbors make
Is heard by me, quite loud and clear.
And they all hear my noise as well,
But hardly ever do I care.

We all swim in the swimming pool,
We eat out in the great outdoors.
Splashing in the mud puddles
Every time it rains or pours.

Catching caterpillars and salamanders too
Keeps the children very busy.
Just the thought of returning home
Is enough to make me dizzy.

Summer ends, we�re back to real life;
Pollution and hot sticky air.
Stuck in our little apartment,
We�ll have to stay here the whole year.

The kids cannot go out and play
Unless I take them to the park.
They have no room to run around,
No puddles to splash in �til it�s dark.

I take a shower all by myself,
I�m the only one in the whole room.
Not a single living creature joins me here,
I just can�t wait until next June.