Summer

The summer passes unnoticed

as she packs it into her freezer.

The sweet air and tangy odors

of the whole garden go in:

strawberries and peas,

onions, squash, calaloo,

eggplants, peppers, peaches,

and tomatoes, so many tomatoes.

She closes her eyes

against the brilliance

of the reds and greens,

yellows and purples

spread out on the counter.

Her fingers caress

each fruit, each vegetable,

the soft and crisp alike,

as she prepares them

for months of storage

in the cold darkness.

And when the freezer is full

she knows that winter is almost here,

that soon it will be time

to enjoy her summer.