at sunrise
stars and night
fade then vanish
as bright sunlight
climbs up
to prance about
chasing away
cold winter’s gray
 
the new day
a minute reflection
of larger things
of slow-motion struggles
between seasons and times
spring always winning
triumphantly marching
over wintry death
 
twitching brown leaves
of a midwinter tree
explode suddenly into flight
proving to be
not dead leaves at all
but a restless cloud
of noisy sparrows
 
it’s all a dance
in the present age
all this motion of time
stepping first this way
then back again
from planting to harvest
from snows to bubbling brooks
only to do it all again
 
so now I rejoice

in the promise
laughing (already)
in the joy of spring
while winter yet remains
I’m dancing my own steps
in early morning sunlight
laughing well ahead of time

 
Jim