Last Of Summer

The house was empty
So I stayed inside until
The shadows chased me out,
Sat in the yard on the old red swing
And swang-creak-swang there
While the last soft summer warmth
Seeped through my bones
And sang inside me…
It was quiet,
Blessed quiet, while my soul slowed
Down and melted in the sunlight,
Brushed cool grass and blew away
All filamental as a spider’s string—
Don’t come and get me.
I’m already home and happy here.
But you finally came and when I
Turned to leave I looked behind
For one last moment
Just to say good-bye…
Someone said the good times start to fade away
Once you grow older
I don’t believe it, ‘cause that swing
Is still a sway-swing-swaying somewhere…
Perhaps the truth is hope,
And, more than this, I’ll see
That summer days go on without me.