July will come

July Will Come

July
will come
after the longest day has passed
after the night begins
its yearning for more

yet the fields have already been plowed
the seeds have been sown
seedlings green in their straight rows
cherries are ripe
picked and sold along Highway one
sweetness enjoyed
with the surf pummeling
the out crops of rocks on
Pescadero beach
waves breaking sputtering
against the blue of the sky

within the constancy of the tides
I listen and wonder a searcher
on the threshold of rocks and creation
and sand and words of clay

walking on the beach between
the steps down and the rocks up
structures of driftwood are found
becoming one for a moment in a
sanctuary of light and shadow

like the pilgrims of ancient times
walking a known and trodden path
stopping at homes of welcome
for a bowl of soup a place to sleep

like the Sunday church believers
after working in their capacities
to gain a day of rest and communing
within their faith and beliefs

like the romantic painters and writers
going back to the pastoral garden
finding beauty in the seasons and fruit
finding solace in their temples of wood

July
will come
after the longest day has passed
after the night begins
its yearning for more

yet the stories have already been told
now living in algorithms
the result of human accumulation
creation is ripe
words bought at some known web site
their meanings approved
ideas accepted in circles of demand
bringing a transformation
of human communication
a view of an unsuspecting future

within the constancy of the riprap
I watch and wonder a searcher
on the threshold of rocks and intention
and sand and words of clay

walking on the beach between
the steps down and the receding waves
structures of driftwood are found
becoming one for a moment in a
sanctuary of light and shadow

like the pilgrims of earlier times
who settled in a secluded place
on the side of mountain settings
with the sun and gardens planted

like the Sunday church believers
who put shoulders to the wheel
offering a prayer to their god
for the salvation to come

like the builders and sculptors
of the remaining parthenon
with the frieze over the columns
of a procession to venerate Athena
 
July
will come
after the longest day has passed
after the night begins
its yearning for more

yet the world has already been discovered
the seeds have been sown
forces cracked of known destruction
minds are ripe
studied knowledge from universities
papers distributed
with their peers going deeper
bringing an unbiased attempt
of truth into their findings
Hiroshima almost forgotten

within the constancy of gravity
I listen and wonder a searcher
on the threshold of rocks and art
and sand and words of clay

walking on the beach between
the steps down and the rocks up
structures of driftwood are found
becoming one for a moment in a
sanctuary of light and shadow

like the pilgrims of the sixties
who danced to the far out music
of the bands and songwriters
still seen on videos of history

like the Sunday church purveyors
after serving bread and water
in remembrance of body and blood
sacrificed in ritualized stories

like the Romantic composers
inspiring people with the sounds
of freedom equality and dignity
and the joy of our human birthright

July
will come
after the longest day has passed
after the night begins
its yearning for more

walking on the beach between
the steps down and the flotsam
structures of driftwood are found
to become one for a moment in a
sanctuary of light and shadow

within the constancy of incoming waves
I listen and wonder a searcher
on the threshold of sand and potential
and rocks and words of clay

yes the source of human offering
lives in care and being there
the heart beating when so close
love is waiting
a rose bought at Specs cafe
its fragrance enjoyed
with the round table discussion
going into esoteric knowledge
eurythmy known with words
uttered in veiled understanding
against the din of the Friday crowd

July
will come
after the longest day has passed
after the night begins
its yearning for more

Rainer Neumann
7/1/23