No fire tonight.

First time all winter.

Our lovely old girl, Earth,

keeps a pretty tight calendar,

despite our efforts to mess with her.

Here in the desert

jonquils have been up for weeks

trees are swelling their buds

sucking what water they can find

up those blood vessels

soon to welcome their source with blossoms,

green chlorophyl, the fragrance of life.

And those of us paying attention

sigh in relief, leap for joy

and make our lists of all to be done

to make love to our dirt.