It was a summer day once more,
The air was warm outside the door.
My heart was light, my spirit high,
As past the barn I hurried by.
Your golden rays were radiant and wide,
You stretched your leaves to every side.
You swayed so gently in the air
And danced without a single care.
Along the row I took my tread;
The bees and butterflies all fled
Or buzzed around to greet my face,
While caterpillars kept their pace.
I stood beside you, proud and tall,
To see if I was short or small—
And no surprise, I saw you rise
Much higher up toward the skies.
I wished to take a few of you
To bring back home, as people do,
To place your blooms inside a vase
And give the room a lovely grace.
I thought that I could snip the stem,
And take the shears to cut at them;
Yet courage failed and left my sight,
And tears welled up within the light.
I loved to watch you bloom and thrive,
And feel your quiet warmth alive.
You brought such joy to all around,
The gentle peace that I had found.
And so I left you standing there,
To visit when the days are fair.
For you are why I love to see
The summer days return to me.
