Shawl

 
 
 

Bitter spring morning—
 
over her bony shoulders
 
she drapes a thin shawl.

Hem

 
 
 

After spring planting,
 
the hem of the scarecrow’s coat
 
keeps unraveling.

Rooster

 
 
 

Icy spring morning—
 
even the red rooster’s crow
 
is stuck in his throat.

Housefly

 
 
 

first housefly of spring
 
squeezing its way through a hole
 
in the kitchen screen

Windy

 
 
 

Windy day in spring—
 
a crumpled candy wrapper
 
skitters down the walk.

Milk

 
 
 

first weekend of spring—
 
pouring milk into a bowl
 
for the feral cats

Wind

 
 
 

first weekend of spring—
 
wind whipping sheets on the line
 
into a frenzy