Janeen Pergrin

After the Thaw

The river, a frostbite victim,
is frozen in its extremities:
its edges and shallows covered by canopies of ice;
its sun-warmed center flowing
in figure eight and half-moon pools.
The debris of late fallen leaves and limbs
and all of autumn's remains drift to the center.

This is the season when winter's skeletons are
exposed.
Bare tree branches clutch husks of hornets nests up
to an overcast sky.
Split stalks murmur restlessly in the fields
and only crows reply.

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The 2River View, 4.2 (Winter 2000)

2River