Summer Freedom

A gray sky dappled with pale yellow light,
Morning dewdrops shining like diamonds on every leaf,
A warm golden glow around the curtains,
The rich smell of coffee and pancakes,
Those hours before the air turns hot,
Scraped hands and knees,
A luke-warm splash of water,
Laughing with sopping wet hair,
Fingers sticky with glue,
Bursts of salt and spice,
The dull 'thunk' of a chess piece,
Smoky snd savory and salty and sweet mixed,
Savoring those long hours of light,
A warm bed piled with pillows,
A blue sky, streaked with pink and orange,
Glittering stars, finally revealed.