.
The lawns have emerged from the snow and ice looking frumpy
With tufts leaning this way and that,
as if the whole yard had just got out of bed.
And the leaves that October’s rakes missed
Are scattered here and there
Like dirty socks on a bedroom floor
Every now and then a paper or plastic wrapper shifts with the wind
Once hidden in snow and now glaring in the grass
.
The breeze is gentle and steady as breathing
And it tinkles the neighbor’s chimes
It’s five o’clock and the sun is still high in the sky
The rays direct enough now to warm the walls of houses
.
Cars glide on clear pavement
No circling crinkle and metal crush of tire chains
No slipping or sliding, no slap of windshield wipers
These machines seem to be smiling
As their chrome mouths glint in the sunlight
They no longer labor
But whisk along
As if this were the very thing they were made for
Kids with windows down
Music booming
The bass shakes the very ground
.
In the far distance, a chainsaw strains
Clearing the last of the winter’s damage.
Copyright 2015
