August, Eric Colburn (September 2026)

August

Summer descends through tiers of light and shadow,

Coolness and warmth, like a falling leaf.
Today it slides sidewise, along the window;
I grab it, hold it, add it to my sheaf
Of days, as if collecting passing pleasure
Or pain could make it pass more slowly. Fast
Or slow, the days are gone, and hoarding treasure
Chests of memories won't make them last.
Let summer fall as it decides to fall.
Let that bright cloud pass by or darken. We
Are only watching, waiting, hearkening
To the divine pageant of the sky 
And earth, and all of our internal
Weather, and as we watch, we float, then fly.