Midsummer

crops all sown

seeds all started

shadows leave no marks

Summer pauses 

after a six-month climb

it’s seven at night and the sun’s still high

there are finches feeding on firm shiny kale

leaving leaves punctured like a colander

after eight and a robin’s still singing

an osprey fishes Brown’s Bay

nine at night you can write without light

planning tomorrow

first peas culled for a salad 

strawberries again

some starts aborted 

new ones started 

Donal kicked his slippers off

staggered on bare feet

swiveled swaggered high stepped side stepped

celebrated with the Street

Midsummer’s come 

uncertain starlight

silhouettes treetops swaying 

while the moon remembers its way

July 1st 2022

Richard M Russell © Dick Russell