Sing Down Summer: Yacht Rock & Porch Pants

                                    

Soft and slow, the summer winds down. Warm breezes carry the essence of autumn. These last few weeks are always bittersweet. Those cozy "BER" months are on their way. Every season brings its own special something always worth looking forward to, but for now, let's relish end-of-summer days.

Sing Down Summer

Seed heads sway, taking bow after bow for 

    feeding the birds 

        through dry spells,

            soggy spells,

                windy spells,

                    and calm.

    Nature's pantry.

Crisp grass underfoot tells staccato tales of drought

    with each brittle 

         crunch,

              crunch.

    It will survive.

Goldfinches snack greedily on a slow-mo metronome 

    purple-petaled coneflower,

        plucking, 

            cracking, 

                flinging seeds

    Cookie Monster-style.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds swarm,

    and fight,

        and scramble

            for every last 

                drop of nectar.

                    Frenzied orchestra string wings.

They have a long flight ahead.

Long shadows inch their way into our day,

    crowding us from the sun,

        reminding us to 

            settle down,

                simmer down,

Sing down the summer.

I watch it all transpire from the comfort of an iron swing

    sipping coffee or wine

        in my breezy linen porch pants.

Listening to the easy tones of soothing yacht rock

    melodies from my yesteryears.

        LPs. 45s.

            Mixed tapes.

                Burnt CDs.

A little Ambrosia to start things off.

    They know just How Much I Feel.

        Some Bee Gees, Steely Dan, and 

            Jefferson Starship 

                serenade the Winds of Change.

As the sun slips down, a delightful chill

    spurs me 

        to wrap into a ratty zip-up

            And just like that,

                afternoon turns into evening.

I linger longer.

        

Good Things Recipe

    A pinch of Seager. 

        A dash of Don Henley. 

            A handful of Fleetwood

And a Little River Band.

Some one-hit wonders I somehow know

    all the words.

        LP jacket still crisp in my mind.        

            Must sing along

                Must move my body.

                

Brandy, You're A Fine Girl, 

    so says Looking Glass.

Dance with Me, 

    Orleans.

How Sweet It Is, James.

So Come Sail Away with Chris and me

    to Never, Neverland

Believe Loggins and Messina,

    Everything is gonna be alright.

Lean back,

    get your porch pants on,

        revel in these last days of wonder,

            tap a foot,

                and

Sing down the summer.

Sparkslingers                            Nokota Voices                    Echoes of the Nokota