
do you see me
standing stick straight
between the coarse tree trunks
camouflaged in the grays
will you find me
peeking out from the
dormant meadow grasses
for over a year now
my world
muted
barren
and whisper thin
concealed me from deadly predators
I willed my heart and breathing to slow
to conserve energy
for the great hibernation
at first the elders spoke of a
a two-month cold spell
but the great freeze dragged on for over a year
I began to question the permanency of
my isolation
when hope landed on a nearby branch
in the form of a blackbird
the messenger sang of the sun
rising higher in the sky
and the days growing longer
he pointed to teardrop buds sprouting from my digits
and promised warm suns would bring spring rains
restoring my complexion
to apple green
it feels like forever
since I’ve seen a true blue sky
since the world was in full bloom
since it was safe to emerge from the thicket
but the quickening pulse of my warming blood
is the truest sign yet
that the long winter solstice
is nearing
the end
(Photo taken on recent hike near Jug Bay (Patuxent River) Upper Marlboro, MD)
Just beautiful. Your poetry has so many shades of meaning. These lines truly resonated-
“it feels like forever
since I’ve seen a true blue sky
since the world was in full bloom
since it was safe to emerge from the thicket”
May we all emerge to bask in the sun, unafraid, soon.
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Oh my, these lines transported me to truth I hadn’t yet acknowledged. I love the turn…” when hope landed on a nearby branch/in the form of a blackbird/the messenger sang of the sun/rising higher in the sky.”
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Oh my word this is gorgeous! I love the personification. I felt myself taking a deep breath as
” teardrop buds sprouting from my digits
and promised warm suns would bring spring rains
restoring my complexion
to apple green.”
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This is beautiful Amy. Holding back tears now. So much truth in these words.
Thank you for sharing.
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