last days of May

These are the last days of May
when our innocence reigns
with a cautious eye toward Summer
when wounds from our falls still heal quickly
our world still luscious and fresh for a while
when time stops to gaze
and late blooms are still welcome.

These are the last days of May
and the sun gathers strength
for its soon-searing prowl in the sky
its fervent kiss on my skin
still reminds me, smiling, of you
when we gorged ourselves on our newness
before the rains, in the early days.

These are the last days of May
our eyes meet -- we're silently counting
time barely biding its time
springs will run dry very soon
so we wait, soundless baiting of breath
as the silent rush of the heat
slowly gathers…


© Jonathan Bohrn (1998)