For most of us, Labor Day signals a changing of the seasons; for some, this change is a welcome sign of cooler weather, warm sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes for others is a time to say goodbye. So long to long days on the porch, burgers on the grill, and long respites in the pool. Happy Labor Day!
The Last Swim of Summer by Faith Shearin
Our pool is still blue but a few leaves
have fallen, floating on the surface
of summer. The other swimmers
went home last week, tossed
their faded bathing suits aside,
so my daughter and I are alone
in the water which has grown colder
like a man’s hand at the end of
a romance. The lifeguard is under
her umbrella but her bags are packed
for college. We are swimming against
change, remembering the endless
shores of June: the light like lemonade,
fireflies inside our cupped hands,
watermelon night. We are swimming
towards the darkness of what
is next, walking away from the sounds
of laughter and splashing, towels
wrapped around the dampness of our loss.