by Allan Briesmaster
Among the keen retentions for this August
go the cicadas, drilling overhead as I
ruminate faded echoes of July.
Air thicker; light a little less robust.
The gardens flare loud-bladed zinnias,
early sunflower and continuous rose.
Leaves bent on their maturest reach propose
to image near-fulfillment that must please
any who momentarily forget
how frangible the lively colours are,
even that agile spider dangling there,
and couch down in old habits sans regret.
It’s harder year by year, living aware
of ways our past illusions are beset.
— from Juniper Volume 3, Issue 2