baby’s breath links arms in spring bouquet

tender shoots spill over simple vessel

lovers embrace beneath sweeping boughs

snow-melt flows

into the streets

traces of winter

edge crusted walks

sunlight resets dormant

inner timekeepers,

urging us toward

the fresh promise

of spring

winter moon

the coyotes

cry

frosted needles, evergreen

full-throated crescent moon

puppy’s white-toothed smile

prolonged absence

the sun shifting

ever southward

two large dogs bark & growl

with proprietary, ferocious intent

an invisible fence keeps them at bay

our Coco gives each one barely a glance

as we continue on our merry way

counter-swipes, long cavalcade of weary sighs

tattered Nikes stickied to grungy-brown floor tiles,

streaked & grimed with street debris, society’s refuse

she sweeps away the crunch of discarded breakfasts —

crumbly mango-oatmeal-raisin, jellied toast

biscuit smatterings of cinnamon, brown sugar & nutmeg

the promise of a few deep drags at 1:15,

sole enticements to endure another dreary morning

fresh air &

vitamin D

but that wind —

so raw, brisk

& bitterly cold