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Summer Solstice 2025

Friday, June twentieth
at 10:42 Post Meridian
Eastern standard time
will find Earth's North Pole tilted
closest toward sun.

This demarcates
most daylight hours of the year
for people living
within the northern hemisphere.

Just shy of the supposed bewitching hour
(more than twelve hours
from drafting these lines)
nearest star in solar system reaches
highest point in the sky.

Hence hasty intent to beat buzzer sound
dashing off riding figurative one seahorse
open sleigh madly awk cross cyber sea,
aye rudder sally forth (slogging thru
virtual flotsam and jetsam) with poetic
obeisance paid to average size ball of
Earth, wind and fire, my out of this
world quasi stellar benediction
since Earthlings traveled thru space/time
continuum circa complimenting
summer solstice at Stonehenge
when the sky is clear, the sun rises
behind the Heel stone, the ancient entrance
to the circle, and rays of sunlight channelled
into the centre of the monument.

Perchance bajillion years ago,
when predecessors
of present day primates
(those foo fighting
beastie boys coon sitter terribly
less a bomb bin hubble), versus twenty first
century Homo sapiens predilection for total
mortal kombat graphically spiraling downward
zeroing (kamikaze like),
loose analogy drawn,
videre licet calling to mind
witnessing subjective nattering nabob of nativity
spinning his/her mathematical
roulette wheel of misfortune,
albeit analogous to
hypotrochoids and epitrochoids
geocentric model representing Ptolemaic system,
or also representing on a much smaller scale
the microscopic subatomic particles,
such as electrons, protons,
neutrons, quarks, and leptons
considered the fundamental
building blocks of the universe,
according to scientific sources.

While scientists continue to explore
the nature of these particles,
particularly quarks and leptons,
there's no indication that they themselves
are composed of smaller,
discrete particles invisible to the naked eye
manifold times smaller than a grain of sand;
now what strains incredulity
whereby countless grains of sand,
roughly (7.5 x 10^21)
grains of sand on Earth.

This is an estimate
based on calculations
of the volume of beaches
and deserts, and assuming
an average grain size.

Such minutiae surprisingly
impactful within the realm
of present day Homo sapiens, whose lives
also linkedin with natural phenomena
and affecting multitudinous life forms
more than one might be aware
geological, meteorological, and radiobiological
to name a few terrestrial processes
occurring across oblate spheroid,
(which could come to a crashing halt
predicated on burgeoning human population
or apocalypse now
considering present day brinksmanship
jeopardizing sustainable planet presuming
industrial paradigm prevails, thence man/
woman kind will unwittingly trumpet, and
or sound claxon (ex post facto), while
warming temperatures melt glaciers,
asper huge popsicles drowning
multitudinous habitats courtesy
of violent meteorologic cataclysms, where
Noah ark will be big enough to save majority
of creatures, and (wherein no art of the deal)
savvy enough to wall off sky high tidal
Katrina and the waves, then nature will (make
a killing) relishing tidying Gaia's condemnation,
whereby Atlas shrugged off sized tureen
if necessary applying pledged finishing touches
repurposing third rock for another species slated
to inherit pseudo tabula rasa after Campbells,
and broth hers detox polluted primordial soup
i.e. once cleansed of poisons, thus...I condense
my Green New Deal spiel!

Midwinter night dream filled
with balm of June solstice rays
lackadaisical and carefree months ideal time
to while away pronounced illuminated days
outdoor sports a favorite choice
occupies athletic population,
which venues witness frequent surge
and spill of overtime plays
another popular milieu
favorable climate awakens
constitutes habitués vacationers visit
ashore popular waterways
beachfront shoreline inundated
by mass exodus of sun worshippers
tidal seaboard awash
along every square inch
human species splashes to keep cool
within ocean and bays.

Six months ago bitter cold
and dark snow filled skies
wrought undeserved vengeance
viewed from these eyes
who after each and
every major winter storm
donned proper attire
to stay warm outside
while clearing walkway
with shovel in hand
executed repetitive motion
akin to how boater plies
similar (yet reversed)
bodily swing of arms
now readily prepares for execution
of most difficult seasonal task
requires usage of most complex muscle
the source of poetry witty and wise.

Awake to the solar celestial sea chant
mourning regarding species no longer extant
thus upon figurative shoulders of youth
tasked with survival of humanity
a behemoth nearly impossible mission
younger generations unfairly saddled
with obligatory filched grant
courtesy when fossil fuels
broadcast onset of four Industrial Revolutions
spewing paradigm videre licet
free market capitalist kant
now quashing, thrashing,
wrestling against rant
long fostering Homo sapiens dominance.

Starry-eyed dark matter
of infinite space
espied by countless eons
since original human race
became cognizant of her/
his terrestrial place
gilding the heavens with strings
of pearly hued lace
closer to earth charting
early skywatchers to notice moon face
held captive via gravitational brace
while zodiac archer aims
cocked bow, where knocked feathers
sans arrow complete an awesome
fantastic bullseye ace.

Mother nature’s ornery primates supreme display
said massive breastworks broadcast inlay
feat of awesome accomplishment
finds yours truly humbled okay
with his feeble limitations
engendering ample rocky tsuris oy vey.

Today June 20th, 2025 after a light rain,
the night before,
whereby cooler temperatures prevail,
a strand of pearls clung to slender tree limbs
bejeweled woody flora prismatic orbs
tell tale sign recent cloudburst
cleft darkened heavens
rained watery life source liquid
downpour laced branched canopy
awash with molecular droplets
requisite to feed burlesque Vaudeville bluster
exquisite gala performance unrehearsed
unscripted ubiquitous theatrical performance

received limitless encores
toward Gaia screenwriter
whose infinite scope
(wrought upon natural landscape palette)
exceeds the finite abilities
of those bipedal dominatrix
human organisms imbued
whose dilettante debut
(dawned these last seconds
on the clock face of geologic history)
might witness curtain call
on their final act.

About This Poem

Style/Type: Free verse

Review Request Direction: What did you think of my title?
How was my language use?
What did you think of the rhythm or pattern or pacing?
How does this theme appeal to you?
How was the beginning/ending of the poem?
Is the internal logic consistent?

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - polished draft

About the Author

Region, Country: PA, USA

Favorite Poets: Robert Burns, Charles Dickens, Robert Frost, Matthew Scott Harris, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Sylvia Plath, Gary Snyder, Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman

More from this author

Comments

neopoet

neopoet

3 months 1 week ago

Neopoet AI [2025-04]

The below is a computer-generated response from Neo, Neopoet’s AI:

This poem ambitiously weaves together scientific facts, historical allusions, and environmental concerns centered on the summer solstice, creating a sprawling tapestry of human experience and cosmic perspective. The breadth of references—from Stonehenge alignments to subatomic particles and climate change—reflects a desire to situate the solstice within both temporal and existential frameworks.

Strengths: - The poem’s scope is vast, attempting to connect microcosm and macrocosm, past and future, nature and humanity, which is intellectually stimulating. - The use of technical and scientific terminology adds a layer of complexity and grounds the poem in real-world phenomena. - The imagery of natural events (rain, sun, tides) interspersed with cultural references (Stonehenge, Noah’s Ark) enriches the thematic texture.

Areas for development: 1. **Structural coherence and pacing:** The poem’s length and density can overwhelm the reader. Consider breaking it into clearer sections or stanzas with thematic or tonal unity to aid navigation and enhance impact. Currently, the flow feels episodic and at times disjointed, which may dilute the emotional resonance.

2. **Clarity and accessibility:** The poem employs a highly allusive and sometimes cryptic style, with complex vocabulary and neologisms (“flotsam and jetsam,” “burlesque Vaudeville bluster,” “rocky tsuris oy vey”). While these enrich texture, they may also hinder comprehension. Balancing erudition with clarity could make the poem more approachable without sacrificing depth.

3. **Tone and voice consistency:** The poem shifts between formal exposition, playful wordplay, and urgent environmental warnings. These tonal shifts can be effective but might benefit from smoother transitions or more deliberate juxtaposition to avoid reader disorientation.

4. **Use of metaphor and figurative language:** Some metaphors (e.g., “riding figurative one seahorse open sleigh,” “strings of pearly hued lace”) are vivid yet occasionally obscure. Refining these images for precision and resonance could strengthen the poem’s evocative power.

5. **Line breaks and punctuation:** The poem’s free-flowing style sometimes sacrifices rhythm and readability. Strategic line breaks and punctuation could enhance cadence and emphasize key ideas.

6. **Thematic focus:** While the poem’s ambition is commendable, focusing more tightly on a few central themes—perhaps the solstice’s symbolism as a moment of transition and reflection—might deepen its emotional and philosophical impact.

In summary, the poem offers a rich, multifaceted meditation on the summer solstice and humanity’s place in the cosmos, but it would benefit from structural refinement, clearer expression, and more deliberate tonal control to fully realize its potential.

Please send feedback about Neo (our AI critique system) to neopoet.com/contact