Clintonium!

NaPoWriMo Day 3: Early April in Hazel Dell

April 3rd, 2010 - Comments (3)

Clouds—
bunched unevenly across the cold sky,
some brooding black with heavy pails,
some towering in bright relief—
bring wet announcements to thawing ears.

And wind—
running like icewater
around, and over, and through
the wintered bones of maples and oaks—
rinses hard against the tentative flesh of spring.

But leaves emerge despite the washing,
in the sunny greens and reds of novice foliage,
unfolding fresh as proof against the chill.

Flowers burst from soiled beds or tips of twigs
to turn out garish, petaled faces
like sudden carnival tents.

And I walk rain-soaked streets in sideways sunshine,
bundled in the last layers of a winter wardrobe,
slipping numb fingers in and out of pockets,
listening for new breath.