Thursday, June 21, 2007

solstice

Summer arrives in a few minutes
announced only by the estival breezes
and the clacking of the wooden
blinds in our room. The sun filled
the room with light just after five
this morning and won’t retreat
until nearly ten.

This is the longest day.

Somewhere around ten I watched
the taillights of the Wranger
disappear around the corner
as you left for a week of work
in another town. We will sleep
under the same moon, but
not in the same bed.

This is the longest day.

I picked lettuce for lunch
from the garden and I can’t let
this beautiful afternoon pass
without a walk on the beach.
These are things we do
together, you and I. Today
I will go alone.

The Mayans were so connected
to the seasons and the sun
that they knew exactly when
the first light would break into
their temple at Solstice
and they gathered to pray
and to feast.

I am connected to you
across the miles and meadows,
in the wind and wishes that
swirl around me; we’re connected
and so you feel as far away
as the shortest night is from
this summer afternoon.

This is the longest day.

Peace,
Milton

14 comments:

Visual-Voice said...

very nice ~ you should think about participating in poetrythursday.org

Anonymous said...

Beautiful.

don't eat alone said...

visual-voice

Thanks for the prompt. I haven't posted there in awhile. I did today.

Peace,
Milton

tinamtl said...

Quite lovely.

Anonymous said...

Another gem. Although the light at home here is beginning at 3am and not fading until 1am, the lettuce is ready for lunch. Thank-you for sharing your words.

Sr. Heather said...

Beautiful! Thank you, Milton!

Peace,
Hedwyg

Anonymous said...

I like the way it connects with the very mundane things in life.

Welcome to PT.

Rob Kistner said...

A fine poem of love Milton -- I relate... I still deeply love my Kathy!

Crafty Green Poet said...

I like the repitition of 'this is the longest day' and the sense of connection.

Scott said...

I came home from a two week family vacation early this month. My beloved and our daughter stayed with her sister for a couple of days due to a family crisis while I drove home from the airport to begin settling us back into our lives. Those were long days, too. Beautiful poetry, Milton.

Olivia said...

Thank you for this beautiful and moving poem, Milton!

David said...

Simply a beautiful poem. Thanks

Princess of Everything (and then some) said...

*Wouldn’t it be cool if you could stop at any house at suppertime and there would be a place set for you?* I loved that you wrote that Milton. I know you would have the best meal made.

abby - the geek girl said...

I really liked the repitition and the idea of the solstice, I also can very much relate to this poem. It's so sweet. Keep Writing!