The Longest Day

The year’s shortest night
Looking towards the heat or cold
The moon says goodbye

I yearn to tell you of the heat that burns. The glare of the sun’s rays blinding me as I look out my door. Yet you are in the south, way south. The land of Vegemite and killer everything. The same sun shines down on you but for you the long days are getting shorter. Yet my longing grows.

Welcome summer sun
Come sit and sip tea with me
Remembering spring

Springtime. The winter ended. We talked and walked hand in hand. You mentioned plans. I held mine secret. Spring rains bring summer blooms. But only if the bulbs remain. I thought I could keep you planted here.

Solstice seasons change
Birds still sing in the morning
Longest days still end

I held out the ring to you. Bended knee became on my knees bent and broken. You had already made plans. Your future was charted beneath the equators band. 

“You wouldn’t stay for me?” 

“You would ask?”

“Selfish”/“Selfish”

I still have the ring, the box, wilted roses, dried by the sun, sit in a vase on the table. I don’t have her. She left. She said she was and she did. I wasn’t going with her, I couldn’t. I didn’t want to and I couldn’t have even if I wanted to. She knew that. She had to have known that when she took the offer. Yet, she took the offer. But she didn’t take my offer, my ring, my promise. So it sits on a table with wilted roses in a box waiting for the longest day to end. And I wait for the morning’s sun to rise.

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This was for a dVerse prompt: Write a haibun that alludes to the first Solstice of 2026. I hope you enjoy! 😊

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