In the Midst of Summer

Open your mouth and inhale
The freshly mowed grass
dirt, soil
It’s all clean
A cool breeze and a tight squeeze
Through the center of the earth
Earth
Set up and cast
The smell of the lake
When the fish is caught
Touch the cool, rough scales before
You throw it back.
There’s still blood on the lily pads

Don’t hit the ball so hard
Spoiled cones, melted ice cream
No, the fish is too big to tell the story just once
It grows
Laugh, but open and fill your lungs until it hurts

Living is easier in the summer
Summer is when you live.