EARLY THAW

The first budding oxalis blooms

against old leaves of cast iron

plants. This false spring is still too cold

for strolling bare foot, or even

in robe and slippers through first light,

through the garden. I watch during

a weeks' worth of mornings as blooms

unfold, knowing one hard single

freeze will see them browned and dying.

Steam rises as i stir a cup

of comfort, hot, sweet and herbal,

a reminder that false starts aren't

failures, just a break in seasons.