Summer Simmer

 

summer 

it was my favorite time of the year 

no school 

early mornings spent soaking in the cool pacific brine 

still the best treatment for chronic sunburn 

cause and treatment both 

drive thru the state park gate wave to the ranger 

early so the beach cleanup tractors (sandboni?) hadn't removed yesterday’s debris 

walking thru a mine field of trash and occasional treasure for a quick paddle out 

a few empty waves 

then always joined by a water brother or two 

a "surf" session usually punctuated by a wipeout 

and the pleasant bodysurf / swim 

leashes? what's that? 

sometimes someone a friend, a stranger 

would grab your board and caddy it out or at least meet you half way 

soon enough the crowds fill in 

people setting up big umbrellas the sand wiped clean ready for the next bunch 

3 dollar parking all day 

the nameless faceless and relentless summer hoards arrive 

or the wind would come up 

and the day was reduced to absorbing stray rays until tomorrow