March

It is time for the planting of things

It is time to sit for an afternoon

and think about the days

so soon here and gone

of summer

of anticipating

of building

of making

I need an afternoon to think

about what must be done

and what to sow

already birds are calling me awake screeching

they are piping hot

they are shrill screaming

‘wake up mister…come outside and see

the sun shine longer

and tomorrow longer still’

I hear you

I hear you

I am inside thinking about the garden

about next steps and places

bones already walked so far

and just now starting over

it is nearly March

another April, May

Take a breath, just one

and summer powers in

summer in an afternoon

fading gold to blue-gray

light for the night till ten

then a garden filled and flowing

and thanking God for the blessing

to quiet winter

after so brief a summer passing.