Youth Music

Artist: Miles White

The evening opens into summer night
—heavy. Shadow swells from the east
while sodium-warm streetlamps line
fifty-third street.

The ivy drinks deep of the darkness.
Late blooms open overhead and spill
that sweet incense that blesses
the night air.

I want summer in my life tonight.
Let us step together into the warmth
and wonder as shadow shades pale
in moonlight.

Give me youth music. I want chorus
from the porches of brownstones.
I want scrolling storefronts to chime
in time.

I want children to run, laughing all
rallentando. Give me city song. I want
the low roll of the red line rumbling by.
I want

the rhythm of heels rattling sidewalk
while we wait out the heat. I want
the slow whistle when cool breeze
slips in.

I want your voice to cut the haze
of the evening. I want to raise
the song of your voice to my lips
like water,
like wine.

There is only so much summer
in my life.