Daffodils and the smell of dead things uncovered by melted snow
A sparrow on the sidewalk darts away with a hop
A dog in the window who grins as I stop
He walks when his owner does and now they do a lot
She peeks at me curiously maybe thinks I’m familiar
Maybe thinks that I’m hot
Looks away, decides apparently I am not
Sunlight pouring through windows even after it’s night
And songbirds chirp and sing but who knows if it’s love or they’re in a fight
And their song sings to me to get out of bed
But I have no excuse now, no right
But still I’m so tired
and run through with excuses
Like that it’s too cold out
and everything is dead
Now that day is longer than night
Something in me is devastated
For in winter I could hide
Have my sadness be within reason
Bundle up my layers of pride
My wounds be treated fastidiously
Not open to the elements
Not convinced that I’m fine
My flesh thin and vulnerable
Exposed on all sides
Spring reminds me I’m alive
that I don’t belong inside myself
Simply trapped within my mind
I’m one of the critters that comes out
Into the greenery
Anxious but eager
to enter the threshold
The difference is I live too long
Enough to question my purpose,
Potentially to flourish
and not just to survive
(I could be great if I tried)
STARSMIRK 