An Early Summer’s Morn: Summer Reflections
August 22, 2005
Awaken early to sunlight
glinting on the horizon
of a mid-summer’s morn.
Hurry… beat the sun
grab the camera and run
run swiftly to the pond.
Jump into the kayak
push away from the dock
coast silently.
Breathe deeply
savor the scents of summer
sweet floral, damp soil.
The pond burps bubbles
of smelly methane gases
as my paddle digs deep.
Peat blow-ups slowly emerge
as pieces of pond bottom are dislodged
by pockets of methane gas.
New islands form
day by day, week by week
large, floating rafts of vegetation.
It is here that I wedge my kayak
between these islands
so great for espying wildlife.
Sunlight sparkles on a dew laced web
it dances on ripples of water
and reflects off a dragonfly’s eye.
A red-winged blackbird lands on a reed
and warbles a flute-like call
warning me that its nest is near.
I hold my ground as a beaver swims near
he slaps the water twice
sending a spray of mist my way.
To my right I see a doe
transfixed, we stare eye to eye
then she snorts and bounds away.
Overhead, an osprey soars on thermals
then lands high upon a dead pine
its high-pitched call reverberates over water.
I bask in the early light
as low wisps of fog slide past
enveloping me in their damp embrace.
All this, plus much more
is given to me
early on a summer’s morn.
