The Last Day of Summer

The hour is early,
   yet it seems so late.
My pen and I are alone now.
Soft music on the stereo
   makes me want to stay.
And so it is on
   this last day of summer.

Last year it was summer
 vacation,
but this year it means
   full time work.
It's not a bad change
   as your life opens up.
A trying experience
   which often hurts.
But the pain has gone away
   for the last day of summer.

I talked with sis's fiance'
   on the steps tonight.
He said I could make it
   if I sold what I wrote.
It's not really in me
   to sell my work,
But I agreed with him
   (I didn't feel like talk).
I wanted to remember
   this lat day of summer.

It rained this weekend,
   there were no waves.
But the sun came out,
   for awhile anyway,
And the birds were singing
   in the sun's heat.
It's right for the sun to shine
   on the last  day of summer.

I should have gone to 
   the beach anyway.
It would have been nice
   to be there this year.
There's more summers ahead,
    though,and I can wait.
And this is the last year
   I'm here at home.
And it's nice to be here
   on the last day of summer.

Winter is coming
   and the roads will be wet.
The bells will be ringing
   us off to college.
I'll be meeting new friends,
   winter swells will come in.
Everyone will be excited
   with all the things to do.
So it's not really a bummer 
   on this last day of summer.

It's good to look ahead,
   still, nice to look behind.
It's best to remember
   the things you enjoyed.
That way you know the things
   you liked about life.
Then when your time comes,
   you won't mind leaving.
Besides, there's always another
   last day of summer.

-dp-
4-27-82