A riot of rowdy rudbeckia cheer wildly

outside my front door,

 their rambunctious celebration

welcoming newborn summer

with her ripe peaches

and gardenia blossoms

and bare toes on grass

and pale green tomatoes swelling on the vine.

….and the idea of summer reading

(the memory of long easy hours reading for pleasure

still kisses the cheeks of my expectations

and I get all swimmy with the whole delicious idea,
even though my life giggles at the notion

and I grin with gratitude

over clear blue water
smelling of chlorine,

soothing showers and moving air
on cool, clean skin,

the way the hours stretch out
like muscles as they warm,

 and the chance to once again

feel the soft breath
of  a summer night

on my face
and listen

to the stars whsiper

“go ahead…..take your time

….Love will leave the light on.”

and I throw myself headlong

into the arms of loving kindness

and laugh out my thanks for another sweet summertime:)

(hello gorgeous!)