avatarSherry McGuinn

Summary

The article reflects on the fleeting nature of summer and the author's personal struggle with time, self-reflection, and the desire for change before the opportunity slips away.

Abstract

As Labor Day marks the end of another summer, the author contemplates the passage of time and the feeling of missed opportunities. The piece conveys a sense of regret and urgency to alter the course of life, to stop living in one's head and start truly experiencing life. The author, Sherry McGuinn, acknowledges the approach of cooler weather and shorter days as a metaphor for the limited time left to make things right before the next summer arrives. Despite a lingering sense of melancholy and the fear of becoming invisible, there is a determined assertion to not give up, hinting at a hopeful outlook for personal transformation.

Opinions

  • The author expresses a sense of disappointment for not making the most of the past summer and for not engaging with life more fully.
  • There is a feeling of being trapped in one's own thoughts, which is seen as a hindrance to living life to its fullest.
  • The author seems to be at a crossroads, recognizing the need to change and the finite nature of time to do so.
  • The sentiment is conveyed that personal growth and the pursuit of dreams should not be delayed, as time waits for no one.
  • There is an undercurrent of self-reflection and the acknowledgment of personal responsibility in shaping one's destiny.
  • The author's work is presented as a source of reflection and possibly inspiration for readers, with references to other writings that explore personal challenges and societal issues.

A Summer’s Death

Alice Alinari/Unsplash

Labor Day, already? Another summer, gone. Another chance, blown. More proof of what is already known.

I am farther and farther away.

Last summer and “never again.” Or so, I said. Might as well be dead. If I don’t stop living…in my head.

I spread myself thin, searching for me.

Where is the “stop” button on time? When did it speed up on me? What is it I refuse to see? Who is the person I cannot be?

I am too close, too close for comfort.

Oh, the beaches never seen. The water never tread. Yes, might as well be dead. When even my skin, has not been kissed by red.

I assert my right to refuse to give up, and yet…

The nights are cooler, now. The shortened days a sign. There is very little time. To make things right for next summer.

I could disappear by then.

Sherry McGuinn is a longtime Chicago-area writer and award-winning screenwriter. Her work has appeared in The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times and numerous other publications. Sherry’s manager is currently pitching her newest screenplay, a drama with dark, comedic overtones and inspired by a true story.

Thank you for reading. For more of my ramblings:

And:

End Of Summer
Poetry
Death And Dying
Émotion
Life
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