I really loved this piece. The juxtaposition of the negative things that can be associated with summer to the importance of relishing the moment (a theme that's familiar and poignant in the summer months) worked really well. Personally, I felt a connection to the idea that making memories has to be the priority over all the other considerations that come up at this time of year. It reminds me of my own life when, come summer, my wife and kids are all out of school and I still have to work. It can be easy to get lost in the work and treat the summer like any other time of year, but as this poem points out, it's important to make time for the other stuff.

For the the couplet "as the skies cast / shadows over July" felt a little out of place in the positivity of the second half of the poem. I might be reading a little too much into it, but the poem seemed to start darker and more depressed, and then move into a more positive note, so ending on what felt like another down note gave me a bit of a "whiplash" feeling. I really like the imagery, but wonder if maybe it should come earlier in the poem, near the top where the other emotions and descriptions match a little better?

Overall, this was a really great poem. I thought you did a good job with it!