SUMMER SOLSTICE
A downy, young duckling bobs in the shallows Holding her own against the rippling tide A lone egret paces the still water’s edge Standing his post with keen, watchful eyes Cotton puff clouds float their way out to sea As the river awakes ‘neath the brilliant sunrise
The flags shyly wave from their perch on the mast To brisk morning walkers who stride down the strand The early bird pier’s lined with buckets and nets While the surf and beach reach for each others hand The wily, old willow that shadows the boards Slyly winks, as he watches the spray kiss the sand
Jitterbug bees dance their way across the yards Skittish hoppy toads plie, then spring off the grass The bay steals a nap from the hot, mid-day sun Its veneer, a pane of briny, stained glass Summer’s first breath, warm and sweet, fills the air As the day lingers on, avoiding night’s grasp
Soon, frustrated sailors tack home to their berths As the lazy west wind lets the green heads hold sway The beach, now free of umbrellas and chairs Plays host to the seagulls evening buffet Porch dwellers squint as they pull down their shades As the sun starts to set on this longest of days
Now the moon’s cratered face appears in the sky Like a headline about to jump off the page A chorus of stars loudly light up the night While twilight strollers join the boardwalk parade Soon the porch lights go dark and the pier lights grow dim And the shore comes alive as the summer begins!