sharondarrow

who makes new snow last in the memory
who lasts like memory until the last
late snowfall creeps in slow upon the heels
of an early blade peeking at the doe
& fawn to save just in time, grass greening

around the last fringe of snow, lacy ice
retreats in mud dragging its hem across
the meadow night, moonshadows whispering
wake the silent & chilled furry sleepers,
creepers upon the forest’s first leaves, born

oceanic in possibility,
credible as stars, as constellations
shivering in dawn breeze, rustling under
old brown humus of shred-leaf memory:
one spring ago, after the lash of storm

dissolved new grasses already raising
fur into seed & sift, solemn darkness
bearing down, old habits grew pale, misnamed
'wisdom', 'aggression', 'fallible', 'honor'
meant to save the lonely child wandering

near a crossroad of faith, shining to speak
of what cannot arrive, to mouth the words
'mourning', 'morning', who will not take the road,
sail the tide, lowering sky, towering
cloud, who will not run with rain or laughing

bolt of light, this third half of night, patience
unasked, kindness unbegged & tenderness
unknown, the mystery longs to unveil
itself as an unhurried friend, as cloth
sewn over a doorway, sealed only once,

thrown open upon raucous winds, bitten
color of sky at brilliance in ice, cold
blue, glass raised to drink to chapter’s ending,
light on summer water, dance of smooth round
stones, a cool breeze grazes the upheld wrist.




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