In the words of America’s most eminent contemporary wordsmith, Taylor Swift, August truly did slip away like a moment in time.

Where has the month gone? One day I’m sitting on the couch watching the opening ceremony for the Olympics on television, and then I blink and suddenly I’m watching the opening ceremony for the Paralympics on television. Time flies, or at least parkours, if you are a fan of the Ubisoft video game franchise “Assassin’s Creed” (Fun fact: Ubisoft is a French company!).

In honor of the month of August and all of its muggy, humid glory, I’ve selected two nice poems that remind me of the dog days of summer. As an aside, there are approximately three more menstrual cycles to go until the end of the year–if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to stock up on ibuprofen and chamomile tea!

The Lake Isle of Innisfree,  William Butler 

Yeats I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings. I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

A Boat Beneath a Sunny Sky, Lewis Carroll

 A boat beneath a sunny sky, Lingering onward dreamily In an evening of July — Children three that nestle near, Eager eye and willing ear, Pleased a simple tale to hear — Long has paled that sunny sky: Echoes fade and memories die: Autumn frosts have slain July. Still she haunts me, phantomwise, Alice moving under skies Never seen by waking eyes. Children yet, the tale to hear, Eager eye and willing ear, Lovingly shall nestle near. In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die: Ever drifting down the stream — Lingering in the golden gleam — Life, what is it but a dream? 

Andrea Gutierrez is the managing editor of the Bryan County News.