Summer Passed So Quickly

Scandinavian Review, Summer 2003 by Forsstrom, Tua

Summer passed so quickly, and I hardly remember

the house on the hill anymore. Still, I spent many

nights there. Lightning illuminated the enormous magnolia.

A lightning bolt always takes the shortest way between a cloud

and the ground. The owner rarely showed up, not a leaf

moved in the wind. He was playing Kinderszenen on such a

precious instrument that you'd doubt the whole thing, afterwards. I'm left

standing with a glass key in my hand. Smoke, against your face a

dark gust. We easily consider ourselves defeated. Deep down there

the water is gleaming, a tributary to the mighty Missouri.