in winter

In winter, beneath the snow
the snow
beneath the snow
just there, see?
It is spring.
just there beneath the snow.
it lies, catatonic earth.
breaths so long and slow,
one moonrise at a time.
see? it lies sleeping.
Earth, cold and dead?
No, slumbering, just there
heart beating one sunrise at a time
see?
Pause and watch, watch now...
see?
Icicles like swords at every eave.
Snow in mountainous drifts.
Air like steel in the nostrils.
Soil hard as banker’s promises
water, water, flinty, dazzled in the sun
see? watch!
Within the maple’s gray branch
a bud full of green leaves and shade.
and in the bulb, the frozen tulip
dreams its shades and brilliance
and the chickadee,
recalls in the crack of a seed,
sweet sustenance.

See? See!
Just there, spring
Just there, a frenzy of life
Watch
And see