Harris Tobias’ most recent poem to appear here was I Thought I Heard the Moon (January 2011).
Spring
By Harris Tobias
Old Winter shrieked his last
His bony specter grim and grey
No longer frightens me
His time is past
His grimy presence holds little sway
He has already done his worst
Yet has not gone completely away
He still has a little more to say
Next year, he rasps
Next year you’ll freeze and hurt
His threats are hollow. Know you why?
Right behind laughs a pretty thing
A joyful maiden come to sing
Blushing, shy she clasps
Her hands behind her gauzy skirt
And curtsies for us all to see
It is so fine to hear another Spring
And see her dance
His bony specter grim and grey
No longer frightens me
His time is past
His grimy presence holds little sway
He has already done his worst
Yet has not gone completely away
He still has a little more to say
Next year, he rasps
Next year you’ll freeze and hurt
His threats are hollow. Know you why?
Right behind laughs a pretty thing
A joyful maiden come to sing
Blushing, shy she clasps
Her hands behind her gauzy skirt
And curtsies for us all to see
It is so fine to hear another Spring
And see her dance
This is true and I can’t wait. Delightful!