The End of Summer

the end of july

but why does it feel

like summer is already over

august is reserved for vacation

the heron treads

with her mature steps

through the waterlilies

in the warm shallows

hunting fattened frogs

every unsolicited text

announces another

back-to-school sale

the noon heat

for a moment causes

time to stop only to

accelerate again

into an insect frenzy

another day is over

was it the sun’s burning

yellow light that set

the pace of our perception

kindled our unspoken desire

to return to the darker season

we remember