Greetings fellow poets and welcome to Open Link Night!

It is your opportunity to link up ONE poem of your choice to share with us. There is no specific prompt, theme or form required. If you missed this week’s Poetics, “Smoke and Mirrors”, this is also another chance to participate.

Summer has slipped by for me as my work days have been long and exhausting but somehow I did manage to squeeze in a few special moments with family and friends and a scenic getaway in Northern Michigan.

Hiking, climbing, exploring…it all spells adventure to me. We walked along a very long pier and as the Great Lakes have reached record high levels, it was a precarious journey to the lighthouse. Manistee National Forest offered trails of towering trees. We conquered the climb of two gigantic sand hills at Sleeping Bear Dunes, stopped for homemade jams and a wild turkey crossing. I always seem to struggle between the physical, adventurous aspect vs. the zen of it all. I like when the zen wins.

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The following poem resonates with me at summer’s end…

On a Late Summer Day

by Daniel Brick

My friend,
before the tea cools, and loses
its fragrance, let us pour one more cup
and share gratifying discourse
about the ten thousand things.

Not a day goes by without
flocks of birds seeking
traces of that northward path
they will soon descend
to restore their southern homes.

Not a day goes by without
hot breezes squeezing
fragrances of early summer
across the trembling August air
deep within peach-colored apples.

Oh, can we bind together
like sheaths of wheat
these late summer days
and store them in a hidden granary
for needful seasons yet to come?

Already August dissolves
into September, which
dissolves into October, which
disappears in the first snow
of November and December ice.

Is it true, as you have said,
what we cherish we desire forever?
Then, let us cherish many things:
sheets wrinkled by sleep, pennies
stashed in a chest, old letters

from distant friends, red and yellow roses,
a book of poems given by a dear friend,
a diary, a chess set, pictures
painted by children, an amethyst crystal,
memories of a lost, beautiful love.

If it is true, as you have said,
what we cherish we desire forever,
then, let us cherish many things
so that our desires become immortal,
and our names unforgettable….

poemhunter.com

This is “Mish” in the pub. Here’s to many more sunny, summer days!

Cheers!

To join in:

• Write a poem on your blog.
• Enter a link directly to your one poem and your name by clicking Mr Linky below and remember to check the little box to accept the use/privacy policy.
• You will find links to other poets. Visit and leave a comment.
  
• Please link back to dVerse from your site/blog.
• Join in the discussion below. We are friendly poets.
• Enjoy!