Poems are usually later in the week but I had to get this one in, because it mentions August! And today is the last day of August! Let’s be super literal!! (I always like Louise Glück and this one captures that “throw the comb away” feeling I get at the end of summer.)
Vespers (End of August)
by Louise Glück
End of August. Heat
like a tent over
John’s garden. And some things
have the nerve to be getting started,
clusters of tomatoes, stands
of late lilies—optimism
of the great stalks—imperial
gold and silver: but why
start anything
so close to the end?
Tomatoes that will never ripen, lilies
winter will kill, that won’t
come back in spring. Or
are you thinking
I spend too much time
looking ahead, like
an old woman wearing
sweaters in summer;
are you saying I can
flourish, having
no hope
of enduring? Blaze of the red cheek, glory
of the open throat, white,
spotted with crimson.