the summer of wildflowers

This was the summer of wildflowers.

other summers, I enjoyed them in a careless sort of way

 (aren't you pretty, let's put you in a vase)

this was the summer I slowed down

really looked

got acquainted

So now I miss them, in an intimate sort of way, like summer friends,
those searing moments
on the beach, or by the pool, except now I'm not fourteen.

Some days I was just old and tired,
other days alert, inquisitive, even happy,
this summer among the wildflowers.