That Summer On the Lake

Finally, as afternoon sun splayed
through the picture window
onto wood floor and last pieces of furniture,
I packed that summer on the lake
into a box, mitering indigo corners
between squares of bubble wrap, 
ripples appliqued with lilac jacaranda blooms
blown on the water.

Kids would leave for college and grandparents died,
but that year bees hovered in marigolds and violet alyssum.
The moon's marshmallow singed umber, impaled on a hanger 
over golden flames.  Dawn's opalescence would flicker
in pale aquamarine, receding shadows uncovering
beads of cerulean icing and pink lemonade shimmering
on shamrock and juniper.

Tiers of skinned knees and runny noses now framed
by cardboard and plastic were stacked like red velvet cake
atop a knotty pine picnic table as terns called in the distance,
then sealed with oak and concrete of our final day as we cannon-balled
off dock's end like it was the last thing we'd ever do.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018



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Date: 5/4/2021 5:06:00 PM
Great job finishing 5th in my contest, though it was written 3 years ago, I liked it enough to put it in my top 5. A carefully crafted gem of a poem.
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Date: 1/27/2019 10:21:00 AM
I enjoyed the details and imagery..every bit as authentic as real life is. Congrats, Dale on your well deserved win.
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 1/27/2019 10:36:00 AM
Thank you, Vijay.
Date: 1/27/2019 9:18:00 AM
Great storytelling and recollections Dale.. Congratulations on your placement in the contest..
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 1/27/2019 9:22:00 AM
Thank you, sir.
Date: 12/12/2018 3:19:00 PM
gorgeous gorgeous imagery and you know I love your use of colour:-) many congrats on your win Dale:-) hugs Jan xx
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 12/12/2018 4:05:00 PM
Thanks so much, Jan!
Date: 12/12/2018 5:21:00 AM
Dale, I really enjoyed this poem of childhood remembrance, especially the way you describe the activities children pursue at the lake in summer. Congratulations on your win! There were many terrific entries, including yours. Thank you for participating in the contest. Best wishes, Carolyn
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 12/12/2018 8:13:00 AM
Thank you, Carolyn.
Date: 10/12/2018 11:33:00 AM
Dale, wonderful homage to a painful and colorful time, congratulations on your win.
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 10/12/2018 11:36:00 AM
Thanks, Sheri.
Date: 10/2/2018 9:50:00 PM
Congratulations on your excellent win, Dale, with your beautifully emotional poem. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 10/3/2018 7:59:00 AM
Thank you, Susan.
Date: 10/1/2018 4:16:00 PM
Such an amazing free verse, Dale. Congratulations on your win.
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 10/1/2018 4:46:00 PM
Thank much, Warren.
Date: 10/1/2018 11:24:00 AM
Great storytelling Dale, congrats on another win!
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 10/1/2018 2:02:00 PM
Thanks so much, John.
Date: 9/25/2018 7:39:00 PM
Such lovely memories and imagery in your well-written poem, Dale. Congratulations on your win! Sandra
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 9/26/2018 8:28:00 AM
Thank you, Sandra.
Date: 9/25/2018 6:03:00 PM
Dale, great colorful imagery. Congratulations on your win! Hugs Eve
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 9/25/2018 7:18:00 PM
Thanks, Eve!
Date: 9/25/2018 5:15:00 PM
Congrats again on your top win, Dale. It gave me a chance to reread this beauty and save it as a FAVE. Lovely.
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 9/25/2018 7:18:00 PM
Thanks so much, Line.
Date: 9/18/2018 10:03:00 PM
excellently depicted the image of summer lake by poetic diction
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 9/19/2018 8:15:00 AM
Thank you, Mahtab.
Date: 9/18/2018 5:12:00 PM
Hello Dale,so sad when it is the last day on the lake where you spent the summer days. Have a nice evening my friend.
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 9/18/2018 6:18:00 PM
Thanks for reading, Darlene.
Date: 9/18/2018 4:58:00 PM
Absolute beauty in your writing Dale.
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 9/18/2018 6:18:00 PM
Thanks so much, James.
Date: 9/8/2018 4:55:00 PM
Lovely imagery, Dale. Congrats on your well deserved win.
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 9/8/2018 5:01:00 PM
Thank you, Line.
Date: 9/1/2018 2:40:00 PM
...and the memories grow hotter and larger and deeper as we leave another summer behind. Thanks for participating in the contest Dale
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Date: 9/1/2018 11:41:00 AM
Very descriptive! Love the end! Makes a splash ;) Hugs...Kim
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 9/1/2018 11:49:00 AM
Thanks, Kim!
Date: 8/31/2018 3:27:00 PM
Brilliant writing. And I see you have many trophy wins here on this page. You are a creative genius, Dale! (love the sentimentality of the poem mixed with the imagery)
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 8/31/2018 4:14:00 PM
Thanks so much, Andrea. Lovely to hear from you.
Date: 8/30/2018 2:55:00 AM
This is beautiful, love the language you used with colourful metaphors:)
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 8/30/2018 8:04:00 AM
Thanks very much, Jo.
Date: 8/28/2018 11:34:00 AM
I love the imagery in your evocative poem, Dale. Great descriptions. Fave.
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 8/28/2018 11:46:00 AM
Thank you very much, Agnes.
Date: 8/27/2018 3:18:00 PM
Sounds like the perfect end to an amazing summer vacation. Nicely done Dale
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 8/27/2018 4:10:00 PM
Thanks, Chris. Nice to hear from you!
Date: 8/27/2018 11:47:00 AM
Wish you would never have to leave. Summers by the lake are irreplaceable
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Dale Gregory Cozart
Date: 8/27/2018 1:15:00 PM
Thanks, Tim. Good to hear from you.
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