Dave Bonta's short poem is about choosing to slow down and simply be where you are. The opening line plays on the word "present": the present moment is also a gift, something to be received rather than rushed through. The speaker then says, almost casually, "I take my time this summer," which works as both a decision and a small pun, since taking your time means both going slowly and claiming time for yourself.
The corn is "good company," which suggests a quiet, rural setting where the speaker isn't lonely. Plants stand in for people, and that feels peaceful rather than sad. The final line, taking a cup of new milk, brings in something fresh, simple, and nourishing. It echoes the opening, since the speaker "takes" time and then "takes" a cup, as if both were equally ordinary pleasures.
The mood is calm, content, and unhurried. The short lines and plain words slow the reader down too, so you feel the pace of the speaker's summer as you read.