Summer found

I was driving through the neighborhoods tonight
And the thick musk of chlorine was wafting
Through my open car window.
I was floating on a cloud of memories of days spent
At the swimming pool, bounding off the diving board
Into the cold, cold blue.
As the pool scent faded from my nostrils
The sharp fragrance of freshly mown grass
Met my nose
And I was running through the yard barefoot,
Football tucked under my arm,
Pulling away from the others,
Falling, laughing on the green carpet
With my little friends.

And my mind turned to peaches and ice cream,
Round, green-striped watermelons cut into sweet, red slices
And hot dogs on the grill
The night's Braves baseball game,
Broadcaster's play by play flowing through the speakers
From the radio in the background,
And I felt Summer at its core
The music beating a tattoo on the remains of my youth
My heart lying languidly in a Pawley's Island hammock,
At its leisure, safe in its chest.