March 9, 2007

If I could give you one thing
It would be peace.

And the crinkle of leaves, warm in the sun
And a quiet heart to settle in them
Like the first comma of spring
Soaking up the heat and meaning of the day
You would see the phoebe
Whirl off to catch a dance fly
And you would spook the woodcock
And find his chalk still warm on the ground
And I’d be beside you.

I'd wanted to give you one thing but
it turned out to be the whole day
The sunny woods
The comma
The phoebe
The woodcock
And me.

Eastern comma photo by Kris Light. All others by JZ.