Cold Pastoral

Winter wonders where when weather wanders,
repeats its speech impediments of snow
and stuttered sleet and freezing rain
spilled from the fringes of its worn
cloud cover: coats March
in frost. Damp grass springs back
and then is put to bed again
beneath white sheets, under the weather
when winter lingers, won't take its leave
of slicked sidewalks, flurries here
and there but stays, keeps spring at bay
until the ice-walled creek falls, overflows
two seasons all delay and roundabout;
cracks in their composure augur warmth.

Copyright © 2005 Reginald Shepherd All rights reserved
from Fugue
Reprinted by Verse Daily® with permission