Birds gather
Eaglets hatch
Deer browse on new sprouts
Clumps of mud are carried indoors
on cleated boots.
The driveway is a mess
of plowed black snow
melting slowly
as rain fills the gouged earth.
The air sings with bird calls —
marking territory
luring mates.
Goldfinches glitter again
to their vibrant yellow hue.
Turkeys gobble and squabble
fanning their metallic feathers —
bronze, pink, green
gleaming in sunlight.
A hungry bear tromps through the scene
ransacking bird feeders
to fill the winter void of food —
slept through so peacefully.
The maple’s red buds will burst any day.
The golden willows bend to earth —
an embrace.
The evening light lingers.