A Sestina

Somewhere in the summer sun,

Where dandelions dance and sing

Along with the bluebird’s lonesome cry,

Alone, you’ll find me, lying there

Between the grass seed and maple leaves,

Among the lilacs and river water.
 

And I won’t be drowning in that water,

But rather swimming in the sun,

Rather dancing with the autumn leaves

And hearing myself sing.

And if you’d like, I’ll meet you there—

You’ll find it, listen for my cry.

It will not be a mournful cry,

Just the natural flow of water.

Look, do you see me there?

Crying in the sun?

Come, I’ll teach you how to sing,

How to dance with the leaves.
 

And we’ll try to go, before she leaves,

But if she’s gone, do not cry—

She left so many songs to sing,

So many petals in the water.

But if I find her in the sun,

I promise you I’ll take you there.
 

I know you wonder what is there,

Behind the vines and ivy leaves,

Out beyond the golden sun,

I know you too hear that cry,

That need to go like thirst for water,

That desperate need to sing.
 

I know you have a song to sing—

You’d like to sing it there.

The grass would listen, the water,

The petals and the leaves.

They would all hear your melodic cry,

Out beyond the sun.
 

I know you’d sing for all the leaves,

If I take you there and let you cry,

If you could see the shining water that flows beyond the sun.