Solstice

the sunset tonight was
mint green into coral pink
violet clouds reclining
against cerulean velvet
daydream blues into feverdream orange
a blazing eye winking shut
the crickets are quieter this year
the grass drier
the leaves yellow sooner
and when the rains come
the earth drinks
like she has never brought her lips to water before
the birds revel in the spaces
between gunshots
and my hands curl
into the green

a benediction of aphids meet my childlike hands and i wonder at their fumbling steps