The first bite of watermelon 

brings back the crash of the tides 

waves of sweet, cold sea foam 

spraying onto gleaming skin 

We were sitting  

On the sand 

Along the shoreline 

Our laughter 

Splashing into the silence 

Of the night 

I could feel the heat flush 

the sound of laughter through sun-spotted trees,

i dreamed last night we were fae frolicking 

in rings of toadstools, in and out of trees.

fireworks went off in my head as 

A summer sunset, hands clasped

Slows time, even as the sun rushes below the horizon. 

Shoreline iridescent rubies and golds. 

Glasses clinking, eyes reflecting- blinking in awe.

the horizon blurs into a mess of golden dots

half-glowing in the early sunset, and

the shoreline into greenish brown, swaying

slightly and I can't tell if it's the long grass in the breeze or the angle I'm at

"Do  you like watermelon?" The store owner asks. "Yes," I say. The store owner pushes a plate of watermelon slices and winks. "It's on the house." I grin, taking one. "Thanks!" I say.

Your laughter reminds me of the shoreline  

as the tide goes in and out,  

as fireworks pulse overhead,   

your favorite beach towel with the toadstools  

Last summer

I tried to avoid school

but also

tried to get myself ready

for the big class

for the hard homework

the stuff that never ended up

being a problem.

Last summer

I can’t think about before or now, but after, 

after all the moaning and groaning, 

after all the cleaning, weeding, and mowing, 

after we cook, grill, and bake,