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Reflecting on the End of Summer

Full Term

I grieve, releasing Summer even as she, like a laboring woman, gives herself up in the powerful birthing of Fall.

Every year I grieve the loss of summertime. Even as she entered in June with fireflies flitting around her knees, she exits in September giving of herself to birth Autumn. The fall has its own creative glory but there is nothing like the extended light hours of summering late into the balmy nights. George Gershwin had it right: “Summertime and the living is easy…” Life seems so much easier in so many ways then. So what to do with my summer loss grief? As a birthing nurse for many years, and a mother of six, my creative vision often sees in terms of delivering new life seasons. Summer is a woman laboring, giving herself up in the powerful work of birthing Autumn. With that in mind, thank-you for taking a moment to join me in bidding farewell to summer as equinox approaches. Blessings.

On last day of Summer

I muse on the breezes…

Like the Spirit Who blows

Wherever He pleases.

A new sadness abides

As her exit draws near

For Summer’s ripe presence

Has been fulfilled here.

And I sense her travail

To bring about birth

As faint signs of Autumn

Appear on the earth.

We embrace this last day

She bears down with her all

For in just a few hours

She will bring forth Fall.