Two Poems

When Wildflowers Emerge

When wildflowers emerge

in spring they dress

like Carnival goers

disguised as moments

of color before

the Lenten plain.

Trillium begin their days

in first-communion white

then learn to blush

from experience

of dancing airs

in May.

Bare Arms!

They’re wheeling the racks

of tee-shirts out on Third Street,

and the blue birds are back,

calling to us to rise up

and go outside to bare arms

against the tyranny of cold.