One parent's ode to summer

Don't give into despair just yet...

Friends, parents, countrymen…lend me your eyes.

I come to you with hope,

in these moments of our quiet desperation.

In these long days of forsaken heat.

That mock our mortal coil.

I stand before you, nonetheless,

with a glimmer.

There is a light,

a dim one, indeed.

But, a light nonetheless

at the end of this tunnel

we trudge upon together.

Surely, you will say,

My friendly neighborhood jman,

It is but only July 8!

How could one offer such hope,

any hope,

when our journey through the depths of the valley of weariness

has only just begun?

How can you offer such hope,

any hope,

in these darkest of our days?

To that I say to you: Look!

Look upon the glory with your own eyes.

And tell me that what you see doesn't inspire!

Inspire the hope that this moment is ONLY temporary.

Look upon the glory I bring to you,

and tell your friendly neighborhood jman

that it does not steel your resolve

to make it through

what you feel you can not.

On this very eve,

I tell you,

grab your kin!

Hold them close.

And tell them what you have witnessed here today!

Do not whisper it in their ears!

Say it as the burgeoning stream does!

Or the whipping wind!

Hold your children close

and say unto them

with the feelings that swell upside you now!

Say unto them:

It's almost BACK TO SCHOOL, SHITHEADS!!!