The Life of Summer’s Day
By John Herlihy

We never question the life of summer’s day,
Its arrival sweetly announced by the blue jay.
The azure sky an invitation to lay in the grass,
To gaze up in wonder, my blessings to amass.
On my back, I feel the earth’s warm embrace,
The shadows of leaves dance across my face.
My eyes half closed against the dazzling light,
Summer light whitewashes everything in sight.
Warm humid air brushes fever from my cheek,
Summer storms provide respite from the heat.

Skittish butterflies sip nectar from buttercups,
Their hand-painted wings flutter forever in flux.
Busy bees pass me by with their distinctive hum,
Crickets in the tall grasses beat their own drum.
Greenfinches utter tweets from a nearby hedge,
Squirrels gather nuts as though making a pledge.
And finally the fearsome dragonfly fast and agile,
Darting around on glass wings that look fragile.
Who could imagine such an army in God’s pay,
To descend to earth to grace the summer’s day.

The season betokens a rhythm that never strays;
The living world proclaims its thanks thru praise.