departure day
the car covered
with pollen

Easter afternoon —
the sides of a dairy cow
heave in labor

Mother’s Day
that first breath of air
outside the door

fly fishing —
the frog
too

Memorial Day
in the moment of silence
a mourning dove

spring morning
we argue about crab apple
and cherry blossoms

Leaving the paddock
the colour of dandelions
coming with me

spring afternoon —
even the river stones
turning green

Memorial Day . . .
cut flowers lie
in ranks of white

cattails bursting
a red rowboat tangled
in willow branches