June's Sweet Song

Of all the months of the year, June has always been my favorite. September and October may have their dazzling foliage, December and January, their pure white snow, and July and August may have their warm breezes, but the month of June has a soft, gentle aura that lingers in the air and blankets the coast in a swirl of sumptuous smells. The aroma of freshly cut grass, the heavenly smell of Lupines in an ocean side field, or the cool and salty taste of a heavy afternoon fog all give the sixth month a distinct flavor of it's own. June signals the end of spring, but the beginning of summer. The light of day is at it's longest in June, as shadows dance across quiet roads well past 8:30. Summer Tourists begin to arrive in June. Sailboats begin to fill the harbors. Restaurants serve patrons on outside decks and street side tables. Lovers walk slowly by the ocean, hands held, as children ride their bikes and kick their soccer balls until the light finally fades around 9. Sometimes after work, I stroll down my street towards town, happily letting the ocean breeze wash over me. A few sailboats lazily drift by out on Penobscot Bay, their sails billowing in the distance. I stop every few blocks to smell the flowers that pour out of the stately gardens of Bayview Street. I watch as a line begins to form outside of the small ice cream shop, where well dressed couples mix with sunburned locals. Stores along Main street keep their doors open all day long, as yellow labs and golden retrievers lounge on the sidewalks, their tails wagging at every passerby. The windjammers come and go, some for the day, others for the week. Passengers roll on and off the old wooden ships, thier respective destinations differing from a short sail around North Haven, to a week long journey up to Mt. Desert Island and through Blue Hill bay. June is a time for reflection, a time to look back on the winter that was and to reflect on the upcoming joys of a summer spent on the Maine coast. As I make my way back to my loft, I can sense the light fading from the blue sky above. I climb my stairs, which lay covered in shadows and lay down on my bed. The sweet smell of summer moves through my windows, as I close my eyes and listen to the birds sing their nighttime songs. The month of June is here. All is right with the world.