The End of Summer

Something from the tackle box:

       News about Jesus kept spreading.  Large crowds came to listen to him teach and to be healed of their diseases.  But Jesus would often go to some place where he could be alone and pray.  (Luke 5:15-16 CEV)

The End of Summer

                                        The lake is quiet

                                               And I have it to myself.

                                        Not another boat out

                                               To rock my canoe in their wake.

                                        There’s a bite in the air

                                               And the jet-skis have been put away.

                                        Most of the muscle-boats

                                               Are already in storage.

                                        Thank you, Jesus

                                               For the peace and quiet.

                                        A few pontoons

                                               Are all that remain.

                                        Their skippers will be back

                                               For the Labor Day weekend.

                                        Just one week off

                                               And autumn will begin.

                                        They will pull out their docks

                                               And close up for the season.

                                        But for the next few days

                                               I can paddle the shoreline,

             

                                        Casting a muddler

                                               Beneath other men’s piers.

                                        Tempting the fish

                                               In their boat abandoned shade.

                                        I fish their shorelines

                                               With impunity, and in peace.

                                        And at the summer camp,

                                               Just across the lake,

                                        The noisy campers

                                               Have all been replaced

                                        By band students

                                               From the local High School.

                                        Polishing their numbers

                                               For a halftime performance.

                                        They serenade me

                                               While I fish.

                                        It’s a Gershwin medley.

                                               Who could ask for anything more. 

  

Something to take home in your creel:

       The hectic summer fun on our lake can be great, especially when the grandkids are visiting.  But, that being said, the autumn tranquility is really more to my liking.