My assignment: Write a five paragraph descriptive composition on what I see, hear, smell, and touch on a freshly mowed lawn in summer. It's really hard not writing my thoughts and feelings! I'm afraid this might be more like a narrative...I'd appreciate some comments and suggestions. Thanks for reading!
A sudden realization dawns on me as I look outside the window. I feel as if I am awakening from a deep, cold sleep. I decide that I must step outside for a closer look. The French doors leading into my backyard open with a loud creak, and a wave of heat like that of an open oven hits me in the face. I step out onto the rough concrete patio, balancing a cold metal tray of lemonade in my hands. So as not to upset the glasses, I carefully maneuver my elbow on the door handle to stop the escape of the cool indoor air. Then I walk out onto the edge of the grass to observe the unfolding scene.
It is truly a mesmerizing sight to behold. Everything is bathed in golden sunlight, except for the long, still shadows cast on the ground. My own black-blue shadow stretches out beside me like a taller twin. A short, emerald carpet rolls out before me, the freshly cut blades scattered in every which way. Dozens of dragonflies dart around, so undecided about where to land. A blur of blonde fur with a wagging tail runs off in pursuit of them. My dad is straining behind a huge lawnmower that is eating up the yard and spitting out a trail of fresh green cuttings. His red face lights up when he sees the sparkling glasses in my hands. The sun above is an unbearably bright, white orb, the sky an endless azure ocean. Sunflower faces the size of dinner plates are turned upward to absorb the rays. Some of the smaller flowers have limp petals and wrinkled stems. My mom has picked up the long green hose that snakes through the garden in an attempt to revive the withering plants. Water cascades out of its mouth and falls like diamonds on the parched earth. A few brown earthworms are wiggling in the mud, while the neighboring army of ants panics over its disturbed home. Through the slats in the fence I can see the gopher tortoises emerge from their sandy den to rummage through the wild scrub forest for food. My backyard has become Mother Nature's showcase.
Then there are the sounds of the season that reach my ears like music. The snap of terrier jaws comes from somewhere in the bushes, and then the sound of little paws still chasing dragonflies. The persistent puppy is panting, and every now and then there is the sound of his tongue lapping up water from the bowl on the patio. The swaying tag on his collar sounds like a bell as it beats against the rim of the metal dish. Then I hear the dying roar of the lawnmower and the scrape of the shed door being opened. From the direction of the garden comes the squeaky turn of the hose faucet and then the last few drops of water pattering onto the dirt. I can hear the slithering of the hose being wound up. Then a hum starts beneath my feet and the sprinklers begin to hiss, the spray of water pounds against the house windows. There is also the sound of ice cubes clinking inside the glasses of lemonade on my tray. However, all of these sounds are almost drowned out by the vibrating of countless hidden cicadas. All of these sounds are telling me that what I suspected is true.
What I feel and smell in my backyard gives me further confidence. The heavy metal tray grows slippery in my sweating hands, and the frost on the glasses melts and causes water droplets to race down my fingers. My face is growing very hot, as if all of the sun's rays are focused upon it. I can feel sweat trickling down my face and burning my eyes, and my shoulders are beginning to feel the sting of severe sunburn. The grass blades tickle my bare feet, but the cool mud brings my toes relief. The only breeze I feel is that caused by my dog racing by my legs, but some of the sprinklers' mist fortunately reaches me. There is, of course, that infamous itchy feeling caused by grass blades sticking to wet skin. The nauseatingly sweet smell of lemonade reaches my nose. There is also a hint of perspiration and suntan lotion in the air. The most obvious scents are those of fresh cut grass and churned earth. These are all telltale signs of a beginning season.
All of my senses are picking up one beautiful message: summer is here. All of the beautiful summer colors are visible, and all of nature is singing. I recognize the touch of summer's hand, and the smells of my baking backyard. Memories of summers past sweep into my mind. All of these familiar details bring with them the excitement of a new summer unfolding before me and the chance to make more memories.
A sudden realization dawns on me as I look outside the window. I feel as if I am awakening from a deep, cold sleep. I decide that I must step outside for a closer look. The French doors leading into my backyard open with a loud creak, and a wave of heat like that of an open oven hits me in the face. I step out onto the rough concrete patio, balancing a cold metal tray of lemonade in my hands. So as not to upset the glasses, I carefully maneuver my elbow on the door handle to stop the escape of the cool indoor air. Then I walk out onto the edge of the grass to observe the unfolding scene.
It is truly a mesmerizing sight to behold. Everything is bathed in golden sunlight, except for the long, still shadows cast on the ground. My own black-blue shadow stretches out beside me like a taller twin. A short, emerald carpet rolls out before me, the freshly cut blades scattered in every which way. Dozens of dragonflies dart around, so undecided about where to land. A blur of blonde fur with a wagging tail runs off in pursuit of them. My dad is straining behind a huge lawnmower that is eating up the yard and spitting out a trail of fresh green cuttings. His red face lights up when he sees the sparkling glasses in my hands. The sun above is an unbearably bright, white orb, the sky an endless azure ocean. Sunflower faces the size of dinner plates are turned upward to absorb the rays. Some of the smaller flowers have limp petals and wrinkled stems. My mom has picked up the long green hose that snakes through the garden in an attempt to revive the withering plants. Water cascades out of its mouth and falls like diamonds on the parched earth. A few brown earthworms are wiggling in the mud, while the neighboring army of ants panics over its disturbed home. Through the slats in the fence I can see the gopher tortoises emerge from their sandy den to rummage through the wild scrub forest for food. My backyard has become Mother Nature's showcase.
Then there are the sounds of the season that reach my ears like music. The snap of terrier jaws comes from somewhere in the bushes, and then the sound of little paws still chasing dragonflies. The persistent puppy is panting, and every now and then there is the sound of his tongue lapping up water from the bowl on the patio. The swaying tag on his collar sounds like a bell as it beats against the rim of the metal dish. Then I hear the dying roar of the lawnmower and the scrape of the shed door being opened. From the direction of the garden comes the squeaky turn of the hose faucet and then the last few drops of water pattering onto the dirt. I can hear the slithering of the hose being wound up. Then a hum starts beneath my feet and the sprinklers begin to hiss, the spray of water pounds against the house windows. There is also the sound of ice cubes clinking inside the glasses of lemonade on my tray. However, all of these sounds are almost drowned out by the vibrating of countless hidden cicadas. All of these sounds are telling me that what I suspected is true.
What I feel and smell in my backyard gives me further confidence. The heavy metal tray grows slippery in my sweating hands, and the frost on the glasses melts and causes water droplets to race down my fingers. My face is growing very hot, as if all of the sun's rays are focused upon it. I can feel sweat trickling down my face and burning my eyes, and my shoulders are beginning to feel the sting of severe sunburn. The grass blades tickle my bare feet, but the cool mud brings my toes relief. The only breeze I feel is that caused by my dog racing by my legs, but some of the sprinklers' mist fortunately reaches me. There is, of course, that infamous itchy feeling caused by grass blades sticking to wet skin. The nauseatingly sweet smell of lemonade reaches my nose. There is also a hint of perspiration and suntan lotion in the air. The most obvious scents are those of fresh cut grass and churned earth. These are all telltale signs of a beginning season.
All of my senses are picking up one beautiful message: summer is here. All of the beautiful summer colors are visible, and all of nature is singing. I recognize the touch of summer's hand, and the smells of my baking backyard. Memories of summers past sweep into my mind. All of these familiar details bring with them the excitement of a new summer unfolding before me and the chance to make more memories.