(false)

February’s false spring
came right on time.
Two perfect days
of deception,
and then last night
an unexpected rain.
Just as well,
I wasn’t really
quite ready.
My burrowing work
would have been
left undone,
nearly was
by the temptation
to plant and prune.
I was starting to see
in colors again,
pink and purple
returning to my vision
like college kids
home at Easter.
But my body
had not cuaght up,
it was till in
sorting rhythm
attuned to papers
and files.
It always
takes me ’til
Chinese New Year
to really kick in.
This year I have
learned to take
winter for what
it is,
that renders me
less eager
to let go of it.

2/4/99