Golden

and the magic of summer light

Embarking on this Summer Produce series with

Claire

(you can read her latest poem here) has truly stretched me and taught me discipline as a poet. I can’t believe this week’s prompt is our last! Thank you to everyone who’s joined and read our work, it’s truly kept us going.

Meanwhile, I’m still playing catch up with last week.

The following poem was scribbled in my journal as a draft in July and had absolutely nothing to do with this series. It’s meant to be (well, it still is) a reflection on this sunny, bright, season. On everything that comes alive in these three short months and how it carries us (me) through autumn and winter. I found a way to include last week’s prompt—summer squash—into this piece because it so happens that straightneck squash is yellow. Or better yet, golden.

And yes, I know fall is still a month-ish away, but consider this poem my attempt at holding on to the last bits of warmer weather.

Be on the lookout for another poem from me by the end of the week (remember, it’s the last prompt in the series!!) along with a special announcement.

Keep scrolling to read Golden

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Golden

Summer turns everything golden
when rays stretch over the earth in fleeting magic  

Corn bursts up from the farmer’s land
birthed in a yellow glow 

and the straightneck squash in my friend’s garden 
arrives plump, clothed in its best sundress 
 
Honey trickles down from the hive,
dripping with tiny specks of light 
 
and bumblebees swarming nearby
pause to feed on pollen, dyed by sunshine
 
But the marigolds, the goldenrods
blooming in their luster-filled colors, leave those to me,
 
to carry my soul through the darkness 
after summer has gone to sleep 
 
Let me ride the coming chill of autumnal winds 
on the warmth of their petals 

   - r.e.g.