Vermont Summer Photos: Eye to eye with a Dragonfly

Summer

Summer
for many months you were nothing
but a dream
a fantasy
some hopeless vision
of outdoor warmth
without layers upon layers
of drab and dress.

We vaguely remembered you visiting us
sometime in the distance past
and somehow knew you might knock on our door (again someday)
melting our cold and icy fingers making them nimble again.

Your cousin, spring, came by
only she taunted and teased us to no end
First longer days only to cloud over dimming
our long awaited day light.
She took a step inside then retreated
like a cat dipping its toes in water for the first time.

Reluctantly spring finally escaped winter’s hold
her timid repose.
AWAKEN cried we
she yawned
while daffodils and tulips erupted in fur covered stems.

What hope of summer have we
with such a delayed and finicky wet spring?
Corn nor carrots, cherries nor cornflowers
care for standing water.
Wet feet are not much improvement over frozen toes.

Alas, the weather forecast inspires hope.
Summer sown in the heart of winter
hinted at in April, suggested in May, peeked at in June
reaches us finally in July.
This year summer will be July 26 (mark your calendar!)

However, beware,
as fast as the burner flames up
the trade winds of fall blow them out.

So celebrate, celebrate
summer is here
all hot and sticky
bright are the days of summer.

Come oh sweet summer
stay a while
no need to flee
so seldom do you
we see.

Photos taken in our backyard, Colchester Pond, Laplatte River Marsh Natural Area, and on Nashville Road in Jericho. 

Some of the flowers are native, some not. 

None of the insects in these photos were harmed, and the two 'hugging' were left to continue on with their 'last summer fling'. The vegetables were eaten with delight, the champagne colored currants made sweet jam and jelly.

The turning leaves were of things to come, the three empty chairs a reminder to us all to soak up the rays of summer together with family and friends.