3rd Place - MACKENZIE KIRCHNER- ENDLESS SUMMER- POEM

Endless Summer 

It is time to play, my dear! 

Come, I’ve brought my ball! 

School is done, and we are free to answer summer’s call. 

Tapping with anticipation, 

our feet could hardly wait 

to bound along the hills below, 

and splash beside the lake! 

What joy to see the water lilies 

bloomed in all their pink. 

Much like our floating hopes above, they aren’t inclined to sink. 

We pluck our fortunes from the petals of daisies deemed judicial. 

I scraped my knee to climb a tree and grant it my initial. 

In meadows tall and splendid, 

we’ll play hide and seek. 

I’ll count too fast for you to hide, and at your turn, you peek! 

We’ll play 'til dirt has blackened moons inside our fingernails. 

I’ll bake us mud pies for dessert, if you pick out the snails. 

The sun brings back our freckles fair, as kites reach toward the clouds. The reeds themselves do dart and dance with frogs that they enshroud. 

The stoic swans look tempted 

to break their state of grace, 

sizing up our dinghy boat 

to take it for a race!

Even Bo, the terrier, 

has joined us for a romp. 

He perks his ears to staunchly guard the sacred grounds we stomp. 

The summer melts all winter woes, forgetting nights forlorn. 

Our nurse’s cheeks are painted rose, the joy of youth reborn! 

For some, the sun of childhood will set at end of summer. 

But we will not forget these days, should we still have each other. 

Believe you me, inside us all is still a coltish child. 

Like knowing how to ride a bike, it knows how to be wild. 

Give it sun, and earth, and clouds. Give it forest air. 

Give time to play for kids at heart with silver in their hair. 

For we may stop the march of time by never stopping wonder. 

This setting sun will rise, anew such endless days of summer.