Summer has begun
down the trail, towards the edge
the softened rays leak through
opening up a canopy so dense
Before this heat seeps in
and the tall grass fully dries
a lushness still remains
in the water and on its sides
A soft wind shakes the cottonwoods
their clouds of pollen begin to drift
like a weightless, shimmering snow
as if gravity does not exist
Birds are perched, singing songs
about how Summer has begun
on the American, through the valley
of the unforgiving sun..
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F23e49315-741f-446a-86ec-c61744d5d903_3000x2400.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F737966bc-6a60-4372-b4a4-34a8cb77ef46_2400x3000.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff091ecc1-0581-42c0-a8d7-9ee8ee38ad45_2002x3000.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78b6a989-b774-437c-b654-1567740b452b_3000x2002.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F864b0a98-5789-431a-9761-2a98f9447cf4_3000x2000.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F643e2d1a-97d6-4103-aec8-59f216632f8a_3000x2400.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4b86493c-44a1-4300-a019-af6eebd853ac_2000x3000.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcee446d3-6a7f-4ad4-b322-ad7d5776ed94_2400x3000.jpeg)
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_474,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe9fd735d-dd2c-4071-986a-a0bb07e4f48c_2000x3000.jpeg)
I’ve been fine-tuning this project and have grown to accept that it will never be “finished”.. / If you want to see the gallery in its current form, click here.
I recommend viewing it on a laptop/desktop!
Really wonderful photographs! Summer is indeed here, and now I want to jump into the water from that tree!
What a beautiful sequence of photographs. It feels like summer!