Another month gone,

the summer draws to a close.

I see the leaves changing,

yellow and orange appearing

as though the green was dipped in paint,

An art project

one of my kids left out to dry.

The summer was so short

and now again I feel the chill in the mornings,

barely above freezing already,

how did that happen so fast?

Maybe next summer,

I tell myself,

when the kids are older,

when I have more time

or money

or something.

Maybe one day

I’ll sit on the beach

and sun myself,

allowing the freckles

to join together

in a parody of a tan.

But lists and must-do’s

put off by the real life

that happens

While I’m busy making better plans

that maybe one day,

I’ll even do.