Chasing Summer

When I see summer fading, trees losing

their lush green, flowers shriveling  up,

,

earth caking and creating dust particles,

I want to hang onto the blooming gardens
the sheltering shade and ripening harvest.

I try to extend the warm lazy days, listening

for chickadee chirps and  buzzing bees,

children splashing in backyard pools,

unwilling to face the dying leaves,

the crisp fall air, the inevitable stealth

of darkness swallowing up the light,

and geese flying south for winter.

Yet autumn too holds its pleasures

if I am open to the change of season.