First day of spring
I keep thinking about
the end of autumn
-Basho Matsuo


I want to look at the world the way a bird eats a berry,
to hear the perfect sound of a bluejay again
and beat my heart along with the spring.
You knew me better as a cardinal
on a backdrop of snow. Here I am now

broadly disappointed and biting in half these moments
like inevitable fruits. They split and whisper of a soul
that didn’t turn out right, the crunch of the husk
still vibrates in my ears and the juice stains my teeth.

I could never be the right bird in the right tree,
always hiding in the sleeves of my coat,
clutching at my throat, killing the spring
to punish your patience. I took you by the elbow,
bellowed low over the bridge: No one comes to carry us
away from winter.

[© 2010 Sophia Nelson]

Mar

14

2011

1 note

CUDDLE FUDDLE by DEDDY