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.