plans coming undone —

our carefully sown seeds

swept away

intermittent slaps

as the sky slow-deals a storm

one drop at a time

last winter’s snow

racing down the mountain —

unstoppable grief

flowers we forgot

coming up like lyrics

of childhood songs

spring’s first bumblebee

the double shock of it —

how large, and how slow!

down to the dregs

the swirl of moving again

her shore house condemned

untouched, unmoved

tall grass just before the wind —

desire

even in my dream,

overflowing with sunlight —

pear blossoms

stepping aside

to decline my offer —

fat ladybug

the first warm spring night —

no mosquitos

yet

standing at the door

I tell you again I’m leaving —

somewhere a crow laughs

cutting dead bamboo —

how long

this last winter was!

bowed heads

their mute request for water —

tulips

the scent of fresh grass —

I close my eyes and pull it

deeper into me

feeling the cold air

take its measure of me —

spring night

no blossoms yet —

I promise the pear trees

I’ll check back tomorrow

blood moon eclipse —

we’ll know it happened because

someone will tell us

everywhere I look

deep yellow forsythia

racing to catch up

spring cleaning —

little debris pyramids

in the corners

homesick across years

for my mother’s flowers —

portulaca

reconnaissance —

we talk about the ants

while they compare notes

the shrug

of the vultures

just before they fly

I call my old friend

to compare our memories —

dim light at the window

spring in the new house

feeling welcomed by flowers

as they surprise us

walking in the sun

our two boys pause to read

the dates on headstones

the ache in my back

after days of leaning down

the year he was two

Go Thou Forth and Buy This Album

Joan Osborne is a consummate artist.

Her new album, Love & Hate, is due for release on April 8th, 
and is available in audio pre-release over on Pandora through the 7th. 

We snagged an early release copy at her live show tonight.

Go pre-order it. 
Better yet, go see her on tour 
and buy it directly from her.

For serious.

If I know you and you don't love it,

I'll refund every penny.

dawn in the treetops

as I scrape the ice

from my windshield

new love

and how she keeps coming up —

the click of trick dice

anticipation —

the drain in the floor

of the basement

one storm too many

brown where the green should be

the bamboo lets go