‘the summer wanes’ by Kathleen P. Madigan

the summer wanes

the summer wanes
 
my love of light
gasps
 
takes a deep breath
braces itself for
months of sparse, meagre
 
the summer wanes
              I frown
dip into reserves
fish around in the velvet bag
of ‘ways to get through the dark ‘
 
and then I remember
 
the stars
 
the northern lights
early morning writing & reading
 
walks in freshly rinsed air
bright snow
a thin line balanced along the branch of
white birch in Arabella woods
 
how I love everything
that breathes and most
of what could
 
          given half a chance

Kathleen P. Madigan: An 81-year-old American living in Scotland, as a Zen practitioner my work is influenced by the simplicity of everyday life and my natural surroundings. I have worked in sculpture, drawing, and painting; I write poetry because it helps me know what I think and praise what I love.