Nostalgic Summer Days

by Ute Carson

A cluster of dark trees
blurring into a green knoll,
emerald sheen on velveteen moss,
sprays of daisies across the grass
bees greedily drinking from succulent centers,
quick-stepping deer flitting by,
fallen feathers of magpies.
Naked feet dangle in a silvery brook
that licks our soles with its babbling tongue,
and we children lapse into repose.

Spider-leafed shadows
of late afternoon
as light drains from the sky
inhabit me.
Lush blueberries brim
over the rims of my basket.
Our laughter leaves me breathless,
I close my eyes.
My life is strongly scented with the happiness of childhood.

 

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A writer from youth, German-born Ute Carson’s first story was published in 1977. Her story The Fall won the Grand Prize for Prose and was published in the short story and poetry anthology, A Walk Through My Garden, Outrider Press, Chicago 2007. Her novel Colt Tailing was published in September 2004 and was a Finalist for the Peter Taylor Book Award Prize for the Novel. Her second novel In Transit was published in 2008. Her poems have appeared in Arts & Letters Magazine, The Barricade, The Texas Observer, TheWriterWithin, The Jimson Journal, Secret Attic, The Inkpot Press, The Blind Press, Timbuktu (UK), Decanto (UK), EarthLove Magazine (UK), AWEN, Atlantean Publishing (UK), Lyricalpassion Poetry, Literary Magic, FreeXpression, (AU), Shots (UK), and Dreamcatcher. Carson’s poetry was featured on the televised Spoken Word Showcase 2009, 2010 and 2011, ChannelAustin, TX. Carson’s first volume of poetry Just A Few Feathers was published by PlainView Press in April 2011.

An Advanced Certified Clinical Hypnotist, Ute Carson resides in Austin, Texas with her husband. They have three daughters, five grandchildren, a horse and a number of cats.

You can visit Ute Carson at her website: http://www.utecarson.com/