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To a June Bug

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My front porch welcomes your return each year. Built like a Sherman tank with wings - the night is filled with music to the springtime ear, the buzz and clatter of your noisy flight. Announcing to the world it now is June, you fly into our lives and cast your spell, reminding us that summer beckons soon - sweet season of youth's freedom from school bell. Ah yes, first love that bloomed in June's warm sun - that first kiss, blushing like a timid squirrel and holding hands in public with the one who showed me I could be loved by a girl. Your tenure brief; then by July's first day, like childhood and young love, you've flown away. Submitted to Summertime Poetry Contest Sponsored by: Regina McIntosh

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Michelle Faulkner

Date: 6/8/2022 10:56:00 AM

We don't really get June bugs here, but this is so charming with the promise of early summer and the wistfulness of first love, I will keep an eye out for them! Also the perfect closing lines with your classic deft touch-

John Watt
Date: 6/9/2022 11:10:00 PM

Michelle, you have such a good eye for detecting the themes of my writing, and so encouraging in your comments. Thank you for what you said about the ending of this, kind of a cross between whimsy and melancholy. Hope you see a June Bug someday. I've still never seen a lightning bug!

Gary Radice

Date: 6/4/2022 3:08:00 AM

Beautiful John. Those long lost hot summers of childhood and youthdom come alive in this wonderful sonnet where you manage to capture and bring to life the feelings of first love and the feelings behind those feelings. I like how such a small insect triggers and sparks such memories and that such a small insect inspired you to write the sonnet. Great! Cheers - Gary

John Watt
Date: 6/9/2022 11:08:00 PM

Thank you for your wonderful comment, Gary. It's fun to find an object from nature that serves as an entry point to a poem but after peeling back a layer or two you grasp the deeper meaning. You are always good at seeing those layers underneath, and your thoughts are always so heartwarming. Thank you kindly, my friend ~ John

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 6/2/2022 3:44:00 PM

this is adorable , John, and I got quite a kick out of this: blushing like a timid squirrel !!! Awesome to see your work today. I am trying to catch up on five missed days. OH MY!

John Watt
Date: 6/2/2022 3:59:00 PM

Andrea, whenever I post a sonnet I can't help but wonder what my sonneteer friend will think of it. Thank you for your undying support and encouragement ~ John

Victor Buhagiar

Date: 6/1/2022 12:23:00 PM

Lovely sonnet. Nature is doing its work. But soon mosquitoes will come too.

John Watt
Date: 6/1/2022 1:14:00 PM

Thank you for the kind appreciation, Victor. I don't believe I will be writing an ode to a mosquito any time soon, unless it is draining blood from Putin ~ John

Valsa George

Date: 6/1/2022 1:48:00 AM

I just love and love this ! This is poetic talent at its highest, John ! How the sight and sound of the beetle that comes to visit you in June trigger sweet memories of your first love....and first kiss 'blushing like a timid squirrel' ! I am familiar with this beetle and its sound, but never have I thought of writing a poem on it ! This is one of my Favs.

John Watt
Date: 6/1/2022 1:23:00 PM

Valsa, this was inspired by reading On the Grasshopper and Cricket, an Italian sonnet by John Keats. My apprentice lines cannot help but pale in comparison to the master, but it was a fun exercise... I'm so thrilled you were happy with how it came out. Thank you for taking time to read and comment, and to bless me with a Fav. Grace and peace ~ John

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 6/1/2022 12:45:00 AM

What happy memories of summer and of young love John. It is funny how the memory is triggered by sights and sounds and they take us right back to the feelings we had long ago. This was delightful to read. I used to be very afraid of June bugs because they would get caught in my long hair. I still remember hearing their sounds as they congregated on our screen door. I wouldn’t go outside. Blessings xxoo

John Watt
Date: 6/1/2022 1:26:00 PM

Oh my, I can only imagine how frustrating and uncomfortable it must have been to have June bugs lodged in your long hair! I hope you won't be having any bad dreams about such entanglements any time soon, but I am sure grateful for your kind comment about nostalgic summer memories. First love came to me with a 21-gun salute, for I had been so shy for so long! Blessings ~ John

Brandy Nicole

Date: 5/31/2022 8:00:00 PM

The June bug is such a delight to see. "You fly into our lives and cast your spell" So true. This time of year is filled with magic and beautiful moments of romance. I'm gliding through the sapphire blue, curling its beauty softly around me. Because of love. :) Brandy

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2022 10:13:00 PM

Brandy, you have "caught" the essence of love and magic and nature and romance I had attempted to sprinkle into this little ode to June, symbolized by the enchanting little June bug. Thank you for joining me on this journey; your kind heart is always appreciated ~ John

Evelyn Judy Buehler

Date: 5/31/2022 6:21:00 PM

This is just delightful, John. It brought back many memories. In my childhood, I knew a boy who was nicknamed 'June Bug.' This is a fave, my friend. :)

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2022 10:07:00 PM

Evelyn, what a charming surprise that you knew someone with the nickname June Bug! I'm delighted to be graced by your visit to my page, and am so grateful to have the honor of your fave. I'm happy it triggered pleasant memories for you, my talented friend. Blessings ~ John

Susan Ashley

Date: 5/31/2022 12:14:00 PM

Oh my dear PoBro!! What poetic splendor spills from your gifted pen. I adore how you welcome the June bug back to your porch like an old friend with all it represents and with all the reminiscences. You portray the spirit of life’s young summer season, when everything with love was new and in its first bloom, with amazing rhythm, rhymes and poetic finesse. Tender, wistful and magical, this beautiful poem cast a spell on me and captured my heart’s imagination completely. John, your couplet is emotional bittersweet beauty and a grand finale to a magnificent piece that completely immersed me in your creative and captivating introspection. A fav! Warmest wishes and hugs.. your PS-PS

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2022 9:48:00 PM

My dear PS-PS, how endearing your effusive affirmation is, beyond what I deserve... your kindness is felt deeply and is treasured in my heart. I'm so pleased you found this to your liking and am thrilled by your fav. Thank you for that and for your mention of the couplet; I think it's my favorite part. Bouquets of smiles to you, my lovely friend ~ PoBro

Laura Leiser

Date: 5/30/2022 2:11:00 PM

I just love this poem, John! It is playful and wistful at the same time. I love the metaphor of the June bug and the awkwardness of young love. Another fave! :)

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2022 9:40:00 PM

Glad you sensed both the playful and wistful sides of this, Laura. My memories of summer are sweet ones, but time does fly by. Thank you for the visit and the fave, my dear friend!

Tom Cunningham

Date: 5/30/2022 3:05:00 AM

It certainly brought you back happy memories John. Hope you're keeping well. Tom

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2022 9:35:00 PM

Indeed, I always adored the summer months, and still do. Thank you Tom ~ John