I'm Invited

Sassafras trees here, and perhaps it's the soil, don't get very tall and have glove-shaped green leaves. A friend came by, dug up some of the root, and made sassafras tea: It tasted like hot root beer. You're not supposed to drink a lot of it; we just wanted a taste. All parts of the tree are said to be fragrant. Later, outside, I found at my feet, like an invitation through a mail slot, a scarlet sassafras leaf, and it stopped me, and reminded me that summer is everything's birthday party, a gorgeous insanity, and the rest of the year is everyday life. I hope you too get an invitation to the party. If summer has a peak, a summit, a day of wonder, it's July 25.