by Addie Chen
summer is here
with an almost timid grace
nothing like the summers of childhood,
that stretched, it seemed, eternally.
the days unwind themselves gently,
warmth flooding into rooms with an easy silence,
the hours slipping away unasked for recognition.
Ice cream melts quicker than conversation,
friends come and go out of plans with little notice.
long after dark it’s still light,
as if the evening itself isn’t ready to give up its day.
in between long dreaded days and confused thoughts,
I think to myself that
growing up is very much like summer.
gorgeous but fleeting,
and it disappears before you even know you had it.
Art by Saatchi Art
About the Author
Addie is a teen poet who finds meaning in nature, writing about seasons, silence, and the beauty of everyday surroundings.