how to vanish like the summer
a poem
i. kiss the salt and skin of me one final time
with reckless bloom
and sunlight;
*
ii. decrescendo cricket-song
of midnight’s breath
to bells
and children’s steps toward school—
it is time for you,
my firestorm,
to fade into surrender—
*
iii. make crazy, wild love to me
this last embrace beneath
the lazy drape of August’s moon.
*
iv. abandon all the sweat and sweetness of
our bramble-laden,
restless romance;
*
v. lick my fingers, drenched
with nectar, spilt
from berries, crushed
subjacent to the curl and coil of
our fevered,
frenzied lust,
*
vi. then dip your paintbrush in
my bleeding heart to paint
the forest’s leaves with
red September—
*
vii. bid the green and golden hour of
our love succumb
to scarlet, autumn rust.
*
viii. flaunt the equinox of wane
and wither as
a mistress—
*
ix. make me jealous—
*
x. make me miss you—
*
xi. make me fall to rock
and bottom, (like)
the leaves,
*
xii. then begin the slow decay of all
your warmth into
the ashes—
*
xiii. still the lilt of birds
and buzzing of
the bees.
*
xiv. redecorate the forest.
the cottage where
we sipped the sun must lose
its memory of
your name—
*
xv. so dallop amber trees with
mottled mist of emerald absence;
*
xvi. let the memory of you dwindle as
the pumpkin spice
and black clove-seed stir clouds
of spectral dance,
and V of geese,
and teardrops strewn
across my cheeks like rain.
*
xvii. then ombré your magnetic bronze into
a granite grayness;
*
xviii. each and every day become
a little less of what you are—
*
xix. and when the bell and white-leaf pearl
of ghost pipe bloom—
unfurling tendriled plumes of smoke
and life
from earth’s damp womb—
allow the final breath of you to
spill with ease back toward the stars.
*
-Gina C. 🧚♀️✨
About the Creator
Gina C.
Poet | Author | Architect of Worlds
Sowing stories rooted in culture, origin, metamorphosis, resilience, language & love via fantasy, myth, magical realism & botanical prose
Writing my novel!🧚🏻♀️🐉✨
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
A Failed Artist, A Disillusioned Poet, An Underpaid Game Show Host
I took my son and niece to Gori, a small town in Georgia where Joseph Stalin was born. They talked me into visiting the Stalin's Museum, the largest in the post-Soviet space. I had resisted going there because I just can't stand the monster and know enough about him, or so I thought.
By Lana V Lynx5 days ago in FYI
Comments (17)
So very beautiful. I love all the colors and flavors and alliteration and phrasing. And the formatting. Congratulations! Well deserved badge of honor! ⚡ 💙 Bill⚡
I swear you’re the most romantic poet and storyteller on Vocal, Gina. This masterpiece brims with earthly delights and masterfully evokes every season! Congrats on placing in the challenge!
Awesome and congrats on Runner-up!!!❤️❤️💕
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
The imagery is just so beautiful. Your use of language is spot on. Beautiful poem. Congrats on placing Runner Up in the Challenge!
Number fourteen hit me for some reason, I felt the memories lost and a pain that will never heal. Congratulations on your placement
Detailed take on how to do it, excellent poetry
I enjoyed this one so much - gorgeous rich use of language and imagery. Well done
Sensational, sensual and romantic, Gina! Your imagery brings the earth and it’s fauna to brilliant life as a backdrop for the narrator’s desire and obsession. Great challenge entry and good luck!
So gorgeously-penned! Fabulous work Gina! ☺️🌸🫶🏾
Soft surrender drips in every stanza—summer’s final embrace feels like fading beauty into lingering memory.
Stunning! It's a winner in my mind.
Wow, my friend! Just wow. The imagery and the word choices are so powerful and delicate at the same time. I felt myself slipping away. Stunning.
Omg! I love your imagery here! Just beautiful 😍
Gosh this was so breathtakingly beautiful! These were my favourite lines: "vi. then dip your paintbrush in my bleeding heart to paint the forest’s leaves with red September—"
Ooo. Yours to win, Gina. This is fabulous. ✨
Sensational work, Gina C. This was special, convincing and dreamy. 🤩