April 2007
Today the wind comes low, fast
and hard directly out of the East.
Level with the fields it straightens
the flags flat on a table sky
grey and solid in cloud.
Yesterday morning a light
flaky snow capped each
blade of spring green grass
and froze there, too wet,
at the tip of each delicate stem.
The entire backyard was
a field of bright white Spring
which slowly dropped
and disappeared as the sun
moved up into a blue sky.
Today it is Winter again
in a April strung out on
stiff winds, nights in the teens,
and intermittent snowy mornings
followed by dreary days.
Now its 1 to 3 followed by rain
slush dragging streets
and more draining wind.
It is easy to wish time
away—to ride hope
onto a warm southern high
and sternly set aside our
regular friend from Alberta
by dreaming into reality daffodils
that first came up in March
unburdened of their heavy
white shawls.
Wishes will make nothing
but more wishes lost as
time will make of this April
what it will — and we
can take time like a river
takes one more rock
dropped in by an errant boy
running through
the bramble of the bank.
East Lansing
April 11, 2007
East Lansing Series
©2007 April 2007 — Joseph W. Yarbrough
Reproduction prohibited without written permission.
and hard directly out of the East.
Level with the fields it straightens
the flags flat on a table sky
grey and solid in cloud.
Yesterday morning a light
flaky snow capped each
blade of spring green grass
and froze there, too wet,
at the tip of each delicate stem.
The entire backyard was
a field of bright white Spring
which slowly dropped
and disappeared as the sun
moved up into a blue sky.
Today it is Winter again
in a April strung out on
stiff winds, nights in the teens,
and intermittent snowy mornings
followed by dreary days.
Now its 1 to 3 followed by rain
slush dragging streets
and more draining wind.
It is easy to wish time
away—to ride hope
onto a warm southern high
and sternly set aside our
regular friend from Alberta
by dreaming into reality daffodils
that first came up in March
unburdened of their heavy
white shawls.
Wishes will make nothing
but more wishes lost as
time will make of this April
what it will — and we
can take time like a river
takes one more rock
dropped in by an errant boy
running through
the bramble of the bank.
East Lansing
April 11, 2007
East Lansing Series
©2007 April 2007 — Joseph W. Yarbrough
Reproduction prohibited without written permission.