September 4 – Where is the Summer?

Month of August blessed with Summer

highlight of Greek holidays

this year pestered by foul cold streams

making naked shoulders long for coats

Even as Maria floated to heaven

in the midst of the high season

normal sweating pilgrims

were greeted with cold

The sea as cold as a polar bear’s love

lost to Mediterranean warmth

as if we’ve started all over again

from that jubilant spring

Unusual cool August

more like the end of September

when you are on the doorstep of Autumn

pulling the blankets up the beds

Where is that desirable hot summer

warming hearts and then so quickly

like time here on the island

passing as fast as a rocket

Fat figs in the trees

first signs of Autumn

Summer causing the fall of the leaves

beside the rotting but sweet scented fruit

This Summer disguised as a belated guest

who comfortably seats herself

only to stand up as quickly to pace around

in haste and impatient, as if elsewhere would be better

Boom, the door will slam shut

behind the Summer sneaking off

leaving us to the colourful Autumn

come to prepare us for the Winter

No bad words about the Winter and its soft whispering stoves

but it's like I have not yet stored up enough heat

and haven’t dallied sufficient hours in the blue sea

and still have long languorous evenings to go under the stars

Grapes already disappeared

wasps fattened with their juice

Sardines still in the sea and on the plates

until the last rays of Summer.

Burning hot healing Summer

melting momentarily all sorrows

fraternizing at beaches and in the sea

why such a hurry to deliver us to Autumn?

(with thanks to Mary Staples)

© Smitaki 2017