Tasting August

For me, a southern Ontario-an, I think August is Time's Magnum Opus

August drizzles days with sunshine

Expectation is fulfilled

Where Queen Ann’s lace fringes fence-lines

Golden fields are flower-frilled

Where the cricket tunes morn-noon-night

Where cicadas drone and buzz

Where leaf-canopies hide sunlight

Where sow-thistle turns to fuzz

Where the garden blooms with supper

Where earth’s cupboard overflows

Where we linger, summer-lovers

Hooked on anything that grows

August sizzles on the sidewalk

Startles us with scorching heat

Lures us to the cooler climate

Of shade tree or pool-side seat

There to swab the salty rivers

Trickling down face, neck and backs

There to revel in the favors

Of words like ‘chill’ and ‘relax’

There to mourn the quickened murmur

Rife with life’s soft severed strings

There to celebrate sweet summer

 And the simple gifts it brings

August melts like minty ice-cream

Pools in petal-passion spent

Fools us with a blue-sky daydream

Then we wonder where it went

Treats us to timeless traditions

Heatwave ripples, goldenrod

Wheat-field stubble, watermelon

Sunsets hand-painted by God

Flowers fading, apples plopping

Plum-pear-peachy ecstasies

Ripe tomato with a topping

Of black pepper if you please

August unravels red roses

Often stopping us mid-stride

To appreciate the moments

Sparkling on time’s hasting tide

Where morning to morning meters

What will soon be out of reach

Where we surf a surge that peters

Like a wave washed to the beach

Make the most of almost morrow

Where each flower tolls a bell

Where August is the sweet sorrow

Leading to summer’s farewell

© Janet Martin