For Endless Summer By Jason Baldinger

horizon starts to soften
I’m exhausted after ten
plus miles on the trails
shoes off, walk the breakers

there’s a murder of crows
laughing at a surfer
who keeps biting in the waves

far off
in open water
a cruise ship
fades

two women
flash yoga poses
for a camera

two lovers
cuddle on a blanket
their intimacy watched
by a gull

two more
at the far edge
of the beach
sit quietly

the surfer gives up
bobs in the waves

I climb into a high back
chair of rocks
crack a warm beer
cheers the sky
for endless summer

Jason Baldinger is a poet hailing from Pittsburgh and recently finished a stint as writer in residence at the Osage Arts Community. He’s the author of several books, the most recent are This Useless Beauty (Alien Buddha Press), The Ugly Side of the Lake (Night Ballet Press) written with John Dorsey and the chaplet Fumbles Revelations (Grackle and Crow) which are available now. The collection Fragments of a Rainy Season (Six Gallery Press) and the split book with James Benger Little Fires Hiding (Spartan Press) are forthcoming. Recent publications include the Low Ghost Anthology Unconditional Surrender, The Dope Fiend Daily, Outlaw Poetry, Uppagus, Lilliput Review, Rusty Truck, Dirtbag Review, In Between Hangovers, Your One Phone Call, Winedrunk Sidewalk, Anti-Heroin Chic, Nerve Cowboy Concrete Meat Press, Zombie Logic Press, Ramingo’s Porch, Blue Mountain Review, Red Fez, Blue Hour Review and Heartland! Poetry of Love, Solidarity and Resistance. You can hear Jason read poems on recent and forthcoming releases by Theremonster and Sub Pop Recording artist The Gotobeds as well as at jasonbaldinger.bandcamp.com