Matthew

17

“The Sounds of Summer”

“Brrrrrring, brrrrrring!”
Ah, at last, the first sound of summer,
only to be bookended by the first bell
of the coming school year –
one that is, fortunately, oh-so far away…

Until then, ears can enjoy a time-off from
the dry-throated lectures of teachers,
the incessant blare of the alarm clock,
the mind-numbing drawl of the morning announcements;
for these will all soon fade away into
the deepest recesses
of a memory
eased into the comforts
of summer living.

Until then, ears can fall victim to
the goosebump-inducing hum
of nighttime crickets
on camping trips during which
loved ones spill secrets and spooky stories
and noisily crunch into golden s’mores,
before a crackling fire that does not judge.

Until then, ears can be lulled by
the soul-soothing hush of the
summer waves kissing the sandy shore
before children who talk strategy
in designing the most elaborate sandcastles
and moats meant to halt the battle-cry of
valiant knights atop whinnying horses.

Until then, ears can be serenaded by
the ice cream truck’s aria,
gingerly tottering about the cul-de-sac,
twinkling the high-sailing melodies of
the clavichord,
amid sputtering sprinklers
over which dance half-naked
tykes donned in cutesy bathing suits,
giggling in pure delight
to the sensation of
crisp, cold water tickling
sunscreen-lathered skin.

Until then, ears can fall in love with
the blasting honks of vacation-bound cars,
the high screams touting lemonade,
the steady tap of joggers’ feet,
the easy creak of backyard hammocks,
the metallic chime of bike bells,
the soft spray of garden hoses,
the droning hum of lawnmowers,
the electric zap of flitting fireflies,
the light pitter-patter of drizzle
plopping on rooftops, cars, streets,
and the quiet grass
which swaddles
our tanning bodies,
our dirty bare feet,

all the while remaining silent and
awe-struck at the beauty of
summertime squeals
that remind us all
of the carefree glee
of the evanescent epoch…