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You’d think the gods might have warned us
how time changes things—
or maybe they did, and we weren’t listening.
Instead, we set out on our journeys--invincible,
sure of immortality. We all do it.
Today, on our path, the tops
of a few maples are already autumn-kissed.
Grasshoppers and damselflies dart about
among wild grapes by the old settlers’ cabin.
We stop and taste sun-warmed fruit.
The grapes are tart, full of seeds.
You tell me of your mother
hanging them in muslin bags
squeezing and squeezing
last drops of summer into jars.
A small splash of purple stains my white shirt
and I daydream of lying (naked) in the vines,
crushing small globes of fruit over us,
tasting the nectar of summer on our bodies—
our time now to squeeze the juice
out of each tart and perfect day.
© 2011 by Sharon Auberle.
Used with the author’s permission.
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Photo by Len Villano
Sharon Auberle is a poet and photographer who lives in Door County, Wisconsin. Author of six poetry collections, her work has appeared in numerous publications and on-line magazines, as well as a variety of anthologies. Sharon served as Poet Laureate of Door County from 2017- 2019; her latest book is Dovetail, a poetry/sketch collaboration with poet and artist Jeanie Tomasko, which won the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Annual Chapbook Prize. Sharon’s earlier years of living in the spare landscapes of the Southwest, and now surrounded by Northern woods and waters, along with interests in Zen, music, and photography, provide her with endless inspiration.
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dotief@comcast.net:
Reading this makes me want to be a teenager again, doing daring and exotic things in search of self. Wonderful poem!
Posted 09/17/2011 04:04 PM
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Katrinka:
Perfectly captures the details and evokes the feelings. Karen W
Posted 09/17/2011 03:13 PM
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LindaCrosfield:
Delicious!
Posted 09/17/2011 01:01 PM
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wendy morton:
what better way to squeeze the juice out of every tart and pefect day than with a poem.
Posted 09/17/2011 12:58 PM
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Jo:
I like everything about this poem, Sharon.
Another wonderful addition to a summer fast leaving.
Posted 09/17/2011 10:25 AM
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Linda Lee (Konichek):
A perfect poem for a perfect day here in southern Wisconsin. Thank you for adding these images to it!
Posted 09/17/2011 10:05 AM
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ed werstein:
Really nice, Sharon. Excellent poem.
Auberle and Tomasko in the same week! Awesome.
Posted 09/17/2011 08:53 AM
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jeanie:
tasty, sharon. mmmmm mmmmm!
Posted 09/17/2011 07:45 AM
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