Memories

An old photograph lies on the table, yellowed by age

Children with ice cream dripping down their chins

A summer long, long ago

People sit out on their porches

Neighbors talk

When the night got dark

They all looked up

To see a sky unclouded by pollution

And gazed at the stars

As it grew late, the fireflies came out

The children laughed and caught them in jars

Their parents sent them in a few moments later

Lights in the houses went off one by one

And then there was silence

A peaceful quiet

Uncluttered by the drone of cars rushing by

Just... quiet

And there was a moment

When the night took a breath

Paused, waiting for the first glimpse of day

Exhaled as the first rays of sun stretched on the horizon

The night went to sleep, and day had begun

An old photograph lies on the table, yellowed by age

A moment frozen in time

Of a summer long, long ago