Reading on a Summer's Day

I sat on a bench, hidden beneath the cool, shady trees,
Resisting the encroaching heat that could invade the university breeze.
My backpack beside me, heavy with books—ones in particular
Had long awaited my attention, its time now seemingly arrived.

Summer had just begun—or perhaps it was yet to fully arrive,
In days or weeks, the true warmth would envelop us.

After a deep breath—'Yes,' I resolved, 'I must start now.'

A girl in a mini skirt danced at the distant corner,
A boy with a camera struggled to capture her best angle,
Another boy, immersed in his cell phone, rapped with a stern voice,
A group of kids clapped around him, cheering—joyous sounds.
Couples, trios, and clusters crowded and scattered across the campus,
They hugged, kissed, laughed, and chatted, filling the air with their flair.

'I need to read to pass the time,' I muttered to myself,
Opened my bag and pulled out a book at random—
Or perhaps it was a preordained choice,
For it lay atop the others.

"Being and Nothingness" by Sartre—a new translation.
Oh, what a wonderful book to while away the hours.