droplets of winter rain

gentle last autumn’s leaves,

tickling hidden flora —

emergent stamen, stems & pistils

all urged skyward, seekers

of light’s greening warmth,

nurturing sunshine’s

photosynthetic magic

root tendrils encircle

fistfuls of potting soil

new home, renewed life:

viable options

battered suet feeder,

wearied and depleted

fierce, late-winter storm —

my good intentions,

brought to heel

inaccessible breach

blue ocean gash

the deep, the deep

you sniff the ground,

the spring-greening grass

you lead the two of us

to where it is you wish to go

willingly, I follow —

so enamored, am I,

I follow

I hold your leash

in my hand

but you are the one

who leads us

juncos peck through crusts of white

seeking wind-tossed black sunflower seeds

lost remnants of winter’s last hurrah

winter speed bumps

our trek toward spring

tis only a flesh wound!

current ‘feels like’ temp: —13

by week’s end, 80 degrees

snake plant’s magic

I place it bedside,

eager to lap up

its nighttime

oxygen benefits