Poem | E. Ann Horstkamp

I Saw July 20

I saw July 20,
A day painted in chaos,
An accident, or what looked like one,
Cars crumpled, bikes askew,
Tickets fluttering like lost dreams.

I saw rows of merchandise,
Colorful, vibrant, yet untouched,
No flip flops soft enough,
To cradle weary feet,
Just a longing for comfort,
In the coolness of the morning.

I saw plantains, golden and ripe,
Lying in wait for hungry forks,
I saw food, a feast for the senses,
Sizzling, fragrant, calling out,
To shoppers with empty stomachs.

I saw a dead bird in a gutter grate,
Silent no longer a witness to the day,
Its feathers a stark contrast,
To the passing traffic,
A reminder of fragility,
In the midst of the mundane.

I saw people washing cars,
Soapy water words floating in the air – Tamales!
Laughter? No nothing mingling with the splashes,
A moment of panic amidst the spray,
Finding Sunday to be ordinary,
On this July day, alive with footsteps.

by AIADCOPY (Emmy Horstkamp and AI.)

Last Day of Spring

The sun hangs high, casting long shadows,
A gentle warmth wraps around us,
Sunburned arms tell stories of laughter,
Of afternoons spent in the embrace of light.

Ice tea sweats in chilled glasses,
A refreshing pause before the heat arrives,
Sunglasses shield our eyes from brilliance,
As we savor the last blooms of spring.

Petals drift softly to the ground,
Nature’s farewell, a quiet transition,
The air thickens with the promise of summer,
A shift in the breeze, a hint of what’s to come.

We gather our memories,
Packing away the coolness of spring,
Preparing for the vibrant days ahead,
Where the sun will blaze and the world will awaken.

In this moment, we breathe deeply,
Holding onto the beauty of what was,
As we step forward into the warmth,
Ready for the adventures of summer.

Category: Poem

I Saw July 20, 2025

Last Day of Spring 21-6-2025