Tim Tipton

On the Way to Summer

The scent of long days and the enchanting sounds of children playing in the street

Roaring of high waves and the seduction of

warm nights

Back doors stand wide open to capture the hawkish open current

A hummingbird crosses the garden path close enough

for the bird of paradise to hear the the study 

whirl of his amazing wings

Hours with nothing to do but to dream endless dreams

Summer seduces me with it's lush trees, crystal

cloudless skies and sweet breath.

Summer is in its full glory

Air humid and clear

Children roller skate on the hot concrete sidewalk

Jacaranda trees dance in the afternoon light

Men are shirtless, skin tan and  glossy, showing off-

their physique

Women float along like white butterflies.

Young girls are colts about to run.

Young men are on the brink of hormones.

Flowers I can’t even name bask in full bloom

in a flood of warm golden light de Kooning would  

die for.

It’s time to wake from my long winter’s slumber. 

Four Variations on Four Seasons

Spring:

The air is beginning to change,

becoming powder-sugary with pollen

as if invisible butterfly wings and

flower petals were brushing against

my skin. The light is different now, 

dapple greenish watery gold. Kids of

all ages ride to the beach on bikes

and played in the sand until sunset.

Summer:

Sticks of incense burned, paper

lanterns shone through the trees like huge

cocoons full of electric fireflies,

fresh flowers grow on the garden, and

fruit was ready to ripe and easy to pick

The light-fill red waves broke on the sand

again and again with salt stung fullness.

Waves drift on waves, rocking, tossing

liquid coral roses; Summer is at it’s fullest.

Winter:

The snow falls all night without notice

and camouflages the earth, beneath the oak tree

and bent the limps of the evergreens and

sift out the high pearl-blue clouds hour

after hour.

Autumn:

Leaves drop from maple trees, quivering in the

night air; a leaf flattens itself and leap

away into the darkness flopping back and forth;

overnight landing on a windshield, leaving

orange and gold splashes across the glass

It is amazing that something who loves

the sky loves the Earth too.