All day I'd been tracking along the Monon in search
of some sign of spring, but only once had come across
Kentucky blue grass curling up a dormant poplar's trunk
and small purple flowers dotting a crushed lawn.
Then,
this one prize.
A cardinal, a preacher!
& then a little cold rain fell.
you'll come to this, lovingly rooting
in earth, gently setting to one side
fat worms, watching them
sink from sight with shrugs of their nonexistent
shoulders. As your wrists dry up, caked
in clay, you'll look around you, and
your small red barn, your irises,
your bamboo patch, your ash and oak,
your three unfurling maples whispering in the breeze,
your white house bracketed in lilacs, breathing
smoke, your woodshed stacked with fir,
your mint and parsley putting on new life,
your pears and apples, your geese in their bright plumes
will bring to you the thought of what this is
that you are digging, bit by troweled bit.
Assuming that the clouds will come, which now
My dear son,
thanks for the invitation
but I can’t come.
It’s spring time now
and you should know that I am busy.
The snow just died and I have to go to its funeral.
Leaf buds are going to be born soon
and I have to attend their birthday parties.
After that the flowers
are going to have
their wedding celebrations
and I cannot miss those.
You know,
last month death invited me too
but I told it that I couldn't go.
I said, “It’s spring...I'm busy”.
Winter's filibuster fades to mumbles.
The delegates are nominating Spring,
signifying their favor by piercing
soil with green digits. Birds work
the precincts, natural politicians:
quick with impromptu speeches,
always groomed, crisply garbed,
well coifed. I support Spring. I think
it has a lot of good ideas.
early spring drizzles &
so many shades of green
on the mountain
up on stilts
an empty fishing shack
under spring trees
light spring rain &
green lichen on the roof
of the birdhouse
too cold yet
a mallard couple floats near
the empty dock
early spring warmth
the peony petals tight
around the bud
Wild turkeys walk
past the memory of snow,
this spring’s first bird.
Sudden March sun
as the world turns south
towards my release.
Sure sign of spring
through bare trees heading south
jets vapor trail.