Today I heard the honk of the first Canada goose
outside my window
and I waited an hour for it to return
so I could tape record its call to play
over and over to remind me
Spring really is coming.
Today I pried apart one of the hard, wooden nubs
perched on the branch end of the chokecherry tree
growing outside my bedroom window,
tore at the tiny folded wings of the dormant bud
to see the green leaves curled up inside
waiting for Spring.
Today I did not make popcorn
for the birds outside, did no spread seed
to feed the squirrels grown lean over Winter
instead, I perched my chin on the windowsill
and spent all morning watching the animals forage
and actually find
wild things to eat, new flowers and grass pushing out
through the cover
of melting snow.