Harbinger

by Sarah Russell

Boots and parka are still standard

gear, but the breeze is warm

this afternoon, the sky is trying on

a new blue dress, and icicles sweat,

nervous in the sunshine.

A new season's soundtrack has begun –

cardinals play penny whistles,

songbirds flirt with feathery mates

and mourning doves sing wistful songs.

At the corner, starlings make a bathhouse

in a puddle, gossip, splash under wings,

dunk heads, then shimmy off the droplets –

shameless joy in their ablutions.

I know there'll be more cold. Puddles

will freeze again, and robins will wisely stay away

‘til crocuses appear, but today the birds announced

that there will be another spring.

First published in LoyalhannaReview

Comments

Icecicles sweat, nervous in the sunshine... I just love that. Thank you.

Sarah Russell