The smell of the pond on a summer's day
Running over the hot sand to
Dump the towels in pile on shore and then
Crash into the cool water

Pine trees shading the forest trail
A carpet of needles muffling our footsteps
An unseen bird yelling about territory invaded
Somewhere in the trees overhead

Strawberry-picking in the hot sun
Singing freedom songs in tandem with my brother
The straw poking at our bare knees as we
Kneel between the fragrant rows

Fireflies blinking in the velvety darkness
Everchanging constellations of insect romance
While we watch from the porch, drinking minty iced tea
And half-heartedly playing cards

The sznzzzap of the bug zapper
A slap of hand against skin - dang mosquitos
We'd lit a mosquito coil, but the breeze changed
Or maybe the mosquitos just didn't care