"Spring Poem" by Judith Vollmer

Tonight fills up

with MTV & weary detours

around the city's broken bridges,

stale bar scenes with everybody's knives out

against public displays of affection.

I want to forget nothing

about watching everybody break up

and praying it's not me next.

There's something to be praised

in charcoal gray weather like this

when it storms each morning,

fogs over from noon to two,

then opens to a blue skybowl around five.

Jackson Browne & new potatoes

are here for us.

So are white plum blossoms

snowing on the yard & settling

in your hair.

So are artichokes & DiPrima &

frascati chilling on the back porch.

Like the old river woman who died alone

hoping to return in her next life as a lizard,

let me curl up in the dark, damp places

so I might lose those places again

as this week turns into next,

as tonight turns into morning & you

opening the door.

from

Level Green

Judith Vollmer

1990