the anticipation so real you can feel it ticking
boom, boom
beneath your skin
the sun’s bedtime gets later
as it approaches, never slower
summer

like a lemon, it has a bittersweet taste
the sweetness of summer is there,
more prominent with time
and yet the bitterness is what strikes you first
what you must endure
slither, slither
out of the old skin that nearly suffocated you
so tight
and new skin grows
but it takes time
routine does not appear overnight

and then all at once,
it’s yours for the taking
the sun tanning your new skin
the night testing your new freedom
but you
a lazy creature by default
spend your time trying to spend your time until
tick, tick
the longest days of the year near their end
and your new-turned-old skin sags so
threatening new routine
but you are so sick of doing nothing
you almost don’t care