winter’s gone missing

with

ocean all around
sun soaking into skin
and an early appearance
of spring’s orange poppies

it is almost possible to
forget how thirsty the earth is

i strain to remember the wildflower seeds
unleashed by the fires of summer
whose blooms depend on
a good hard rain

i am sure the sky is lonely
for the company of clouds,
the sound of thunder,
sudden bursts of lightning

i know that far away,
there are deserts being made
so that our metropolitan lives
can be maintained

so

i will welcome the wet
whenever it finally finds us

i will not allow fear
to keep me from reveling
in warmth