Member Poem

summer.

summer is fireworks.
flashing with life.
catching the eye of those
who are lucky enough to sit
at the top of the ferris wheel to enjoy the show
as corn-dogs and cotton candy are consumed.

summer is parades.
the ones everyone has looked forward to all year,
where the young audience waves
american flags to show their pride
as they bounce excitedly on the ends of
the sidewalk.

summer is the beach.
spending hours lying among
the colorful beach towels
as the sunlight tans (or sunburns) your skin,
listening the ocean crest
against the sandy shoreline,
hearing the seagulls caw above you
while the salty smell fills your nostrils.

summer is the burgers cooking on the grill.
when the light breeze hits your open back,
and your dampened hair brushes against
the tips of your reddened shoulders,
while the children next door laugh and play.

summer is squirt guns and water balloon fights,
the ones where you surprise your parents
after a long day in the office.
or the ones where with your siblings annoy you
so you soak them until there is no more water left.

summer is baseball games,
eating foot-long hot dogs,
hoping to catch a ball
hit by your favorite player
as you sit in your seat,
wearing your favorite baseball cap.

summer is popsicles,
eating them quickly
so the summer sun doesn’t eat them for you,
immediately getting a brain freeze after.

summer is camping.
making s’mores by the campfire
while the mosquitos bite at your exposed skin.
then going into the tent you pitched by yourself,
and sleeping on the rock hard ground,
just to wake up the next morning to play
with fun, outdoor toys
that you only get when you are in the woods.

summer is bare feet.
feeling the rocks puncture your dry skin,
the grainy sand in between your newly painted toes,
the soft grass rub the bottoms,
scrubbing the dirt off of your beautiful foot
in the sink with a sponge.

summer is an afternoon at the park.
while the dogs run around playing fetch,
the kids are all playing on the swing-set
across from where the parents are
laughing sweetly at them, just before
they call them back for a picnic
of sandwiches and watermelon and juice boxes.

summer is patiently waiting for the ice cream truck
to pass your street on a hot day,
a day so dreadful,
you haven’t moved from your couch all day,
while the air conditioner blasts
and the fans spin,
all on high.

summer is fresh baked goods
handmade at 4am,
just so you can enjoy a tasty bagel
with your early morning coffee.

summer is dancing in the rain.
in bathing suits
or in shorts and an old tee.
and then smelling the air after the rainfall
while searching for the rainbow.

summer is shopping trips at the mall.
for new clothes,
new looks,
or maybe a new summer job,
making sure to save room for fro-yo
after the food court.

summer is parties
with your friends,
where you get dressed up in cute dresses
with light makeup and hair all done.

summer is sitting on the porch drinking tea
waiting for a donut from the local shop,
reading a book you can’t put down,
while the morning sun hits your skin,
making your eyes glow a brighter color.

summer is bad singing and awful dancing
at night when there are no more rom-coms
or funny tv shows to watch at night,
laughing with your favorite people
after a wonderful day.

summer is lounging by the pool,
in a new bathing suit,
with your fancy shades on,
and sunscreen to last for hours,
while sipping on an sweetened iced drink.

summer is making plans
and getting excited about the future
and what’s to come.

summer is having long walks
at night, in the morning,
where you discuss everything;
your fears,
your hopes,
your ideas,
your failures.

summer is collecting seashells,
and going to craftfaires,
and spending so much money
on pointless little things.

summer is going on road trips,
and to shows and to concerts,
and nice dinners with your loved ones
and visiting family you haven’t seen in a while.

summer is taking plenty of pictures,
trying to make a memorable summer,
to keep all of the stories alive.