Ode to Summer ~ The Worst Poem on Earth

Summer is different for different people, to be sure.  

The kids - like mine - who just got released from the brick and mortar (or virtual) prisons facilities that are their schools to enjoy 90 days (give or take) of relaxation filled with way too much sugar and far too little structure are undoubtedly going to have a different outlook on June-August than the businessman who will still be going to work in an aggressively air-conditioned cubical every day for the season.  The construction workers who are laboring in the elements all day will probably feel differently than the life guards at the local pools as the heat ramps up.  Teachers and crop farmers probably also have different takes on life about this time of the year.

But I bet most of us can find at least a few things about summer that we all look forward to.  Even those of us who often prefer cooler - or at least less humid - weather, like myself.  In spite of its brutal heat and stickiness, I still love summer.   

This post is going to be short.  I would like to pretend there is a more noble reason for this, but in reality I’m just very busy packing for a trip, and so I’m ripping you all off this week (sorry, kind of).

I recently had to search “Ode to Summer” while looking for an old poem I read ages ago.  There were about 3 million results for that search, almost all of them were novice poetry, and not all of them were great.  Some were terrible, really, but I could tell they meant something to their writers.  And that’s exactly what counts when it comes to writing.  So write on, summer lovers!

I will join you!  

In lieu of delivering some fun anecdote about my childhood or my kids I am going to write a poem.  It’s not going to be good.  We’re going to play it like putt-putt and the lowest score wins here.  It’s going to be awful.  It’s going to take me as little time and energy as possible (summer vibe commencing now).  I’m not going to stick to any rhythm or worry about things that don’t rhyme.  It’s basically just going to be a list of summer things that I love.  But it’s going to get me excited about the season (I have to somehow match my childrens’ enthusiasm since I’ll never match their energy).  So, without further ado, I give you:

“Ode to Summer”

Sunday hikes and summer tunes

Late mornings and lazy afternoons 

Peeper frogs, crickets, cicadas and fireflies

Burgers, watermelon and blueberry pies

The smell of grilled meats and freshly mowed grass

Sprinklers on the trampoline and dandelions in a vase

Sunscreen, flip flops and misty morning jogs

Campfires with s’mores, hobo pies and hot dogs

Jam Day and Strawberry shortcake

Family vacations to the Lake

Backyard camping and motorcycle mobs

Bucket hats, sunglasses, corn on the cob

Thunderstorms, fishing and waterparks

Sun-tea with ice and sidewalk chalk arts 

Fireworks, bomb-pops, 4th of July parade

Swimming, boating, tan lines and lemonade.

And if you want something MUCH better to read this summer, here is a recommendation for one of my absolute favorite picture books:

“Greetings from Sandy Beach” by Bob Graham

I believe it’s long out of print but you can track down copies at thriftbooks and amazon or check your library (where we first discovered it).  It’s an absolute gem.  

Sorry (not sorry) about the cheap post.  (Hey, the whole subscription is free, so deal with it.)  Pray for us as we travel with only one checked bag and no real itinerary, and check back the next couple of weeks for updates!