Analysis of This Child's Summer

I love summer
scorching heat
the feeling of warm skin tanned from wintry pale into golden bronze

bright yellow rays that peek through curtains announcing the coming day
longer evenings that seem to stretch forever into dusky, colorful sunsets
and, lightening bugs (where are they these days?) to be caught and released
that mysterious neon glow

this love springs from early years far from the mountains
an abrupt change from black asphalt to pebbly concrete highways
the distinct smell of hot tar on tall telephone poles
sweaty, stuck undersides of thighs to leather bucket seats

a whiff of salt in the air which announced
the ocean is near
the ocean is near
globs of gelatinous jellyfish scattered across the sand during the dog days of August
periwinkle shells found under the fishing pier with sandy toes

a drive in movie theatre with all kinds of Danger Will Robinson
lead painted stand-a-lone soldiers of fun to lite upon
and whoosh
and round and round until my stomach could no more
a heavy metal slotted sound brick perched onto the driver's side window
that crackled and popped with plot and lyric

long days filled with not school
no schedules to adhere
days ticking down
nights ramping up

I still love Summer
at this golden age of mine
and wonder, how many more
summers
like Frederick the Mouse
gathering for the long winter days