When green grows bold and paints the land
with emeralds in verdant hand,
and mourning doves in cloaks of grey
lure shadows down from Milky Way,
you see it’s summer.
When peonies let loose their scent
in waves of summer sentiment,
and lilacs dab behind their ears
with French perfume to rival peers,
you smell it’s summer.
When watermelon drips in creeks
down saturated, pink-stained cheeks
and rhubarb tartly wraps itself
in pies and cobblers on each shelf,
you taste it’s summer.
When breezes tickle sun-tanned skin
and Sunshine hugs each friend as kin,
the grass grows silky carpet-down
and sand meets shore where toes are found,
you feel it’s summer.
When wrennish scolding shames the cat
from lurking where the nest is at,
and children’s cries of pure delight
rival fireworks at night,
you hear it’s summer.
Meanwhile, Melody Muses... 
“and lilacs dab behind their ears with French perfume…” – lovely! We now know it truly is summer 🙂
Absolutely! 🙂 Thank you…
ah, yes, summer has a way of tickling our senses … let’s store up these marvelous memories and draw from them in the seasons to come! Love this Melody!!!
There is a lovely Leo Lionni picture book about a mouse storing up colours and words when the others were storing up seeds for winter – that’s just what we can do, isn’t it?? 😉
I love that story … (sweet memories from teaching preschool and putting on a play with kids for the parents) … let’s store it all up and then, like Frederick, remind each other when we need it in a few months 🙂
Love that you know that story!!
You are so good at this. Where did you learn how to write like this? I am such a fan! 🙂
Aw, thanks so much. I have no training – my words come from a heart that lost its voice for years, and now that I have connected to it, it spills out! It is truly a joy to have stumbled across this little gift that was hidden for so long. I really love that other people seem to connect with the things I see and feel, too – thanks for being a part of this amazing journey with me!
Yes – thank you! I totally love what you write. You are my favorite blogger online!
Thank you! 🙂
Among so many good phrases, I liked “summer sentiment.”
Thanks Lyle. I thought of you when we saw 3 beavers in the creek very close – but all my shots are blurry. I knew you would have gotten at least one good one… 🙂
I doubt it, my ratio is far lower than that!
Saw a grebe with young on its back tonight – haven’t checked my pics yet but I’m hoping there are a few good ones in the bunch!! And a beaver slapped its tail at us – I wasn’t nearly quick enough to catch that. Shucks…
I always find that they are better until I check them!
Oh, oh. Now I have incentive to check!!
This is beautiful and catches summer…still much appreciated after that long winter…eh?!
Absolutely!!!! I can’t get enough of the green! 😉
Oh Mel, Mel, Mel–I LOVE this!! What a perfectly wonderful summer poem–great job!!
PS, I love the photo too–might want to borrow it some day….
It would make a glorious backdrop for one of your couple series, no??
Ooooh, aren’t you somethin’, to remind me about that–and I thought nobody really paid attention/remembered posts from ages ago…that’ll teach me! Thanks so much, Mel–I’ll start pondering my “couple”. You Are the BEST!
Thanks!!
Perfect, delicious summer. And the doves are beautiful.
Aren’t they? They stayed all evening, cuddled together like an old married couple. Enchanting.
How lovely. They are partners for life and such devoted parents, too. Do you see them nesting and feeding and caring for their young?
I’ve seen one of them with long chunks of grass and sticks – must be maintaining a nest somewhere… 🙂
Keep an eye out for the little ones!
I’ve actually been hearing some tiny chirps – could be any kind of birds in them, as I haven’t been able to pinpoint its location. I would love to see some little doves!!
This could become a classic, my friend.
Aw, thanks, Russ!
what joy this piece holds! thank you
Thanks Pam! It must reflect my joy as I spend time out in my garden….
Wonderful pic of the morning doves. This brings me right back to my childhood when we had a pair of morning doves that nested in our tree. I can hear them cooing away. Your poem was a wonderful tribute to summer just the way I remember it as a kid. I am having a lot of trouble with my asthma it has been a very hot and humid summer here and it is reaking havoc with my breathing so I am stuck in doors. But when I read your poem it’s like I am actually there in the moments you share. Your blog is always uplifting and I so enjoy the words you write!
Ah, I’m sorry to hear that your asthma is holding you back from enjoying your summer outdoors. Thanks so much for your ‘visits’ to my garden – I’m so glad that you are able to enjoy something vicariously!! 🙂
So nice to the eyes.
Thanks Kenne! I sure enjoy your work from ‘down south’ – excellent images.