Lupine, nasturtium, Greek chorus of cicadas.

We begin with a box of moon and stars,

sing to summer’s eclipse, to the ashed-over

firepit, back-to-school sales. Birds and deer

recognize the new green light, wonder

why we bend in the garden to stare at our toes.

We drop shrimp in the ovals of our mouths,

then swim, lazy mermaids in a moon-

shaped pool. Everything comes too early—

don’t try to sell me mums in monsoon season,

cider in June. Take your silvery time, O

moon, when you slide across the sun’s dial,

while we speak of what is and is not

affected by waves and waning fortunes.

There is lemon balm to pluck and steep in sun-

tea, tomatoes to redden on the vine.

Tina Barry is the author of Beautiful Raft and Mall Flower. She is a teaching artist at The Poetry Barn. Lissa Kiernan is the author of The Whispering Wall, Glass Needles & Goose Quills, and Two Faint Lines in the Violet. She is the executive director of AIM Higher, Inc.