Spears of forsythia throwing light,

Daffodils’ heraldic shout.

Canaries and warblers

and precious metal finches —

melodic color caught in song.

Bellies and fevers,

jaundice and joy.

Color of yield signs, double lines,

#2 pencils and school buses;

of taxis and Playbills,

raincoats and wellingtons.

Bright topaz and citrine and

slow-trapping amber.

Too-short hectic flash

of sulphurs and swallowtails.

Industrious bees, pollen, and honey.

Primary – and companion –

color of Spring.

Color of teapots and lemons,

beaten eggs, butter, and cake.

Color of zinc paint,

slope-shouldered haystacks,

of sunflowers

and skewwhiff bedrooms.

Bold, pouring sunshine

and pre-wish dandelions.

Dilute color of stars and moons

and soft candlelight;

of delight and wonder.

Yellow.

 

— C.Birde, 4/17

 

Softly,

softly,

the mist descends —

coils,

enfolds.

Veil of furred-moisture.

The world at large

slips

from sharp-edged

focus.

Hills to be climbed

are reduced to

dream;

Trees to

breath

suspended.

 

— C.Birde, 3/17

 

 

She stands in snow,

toes encouraging

new green

growth.

Dash or linger —

she is undecided,

and casts

a glance

over her shoulder.

The lion’s roar is

caught

in her hair.

In one hand she holds

a small suitcase;

in the other,

a bouquet of feral

blooms.

We hold our breath —

She bends to open,

at last, the case;

and releases

Vernal

light.

 

— C.Birde, 3/17