Never Have I Hated Spring
Never have i felt more hateful
Towards the garish print sundresses,
Orange, teal, purple,
Hibiscus flowers, polka dots,
Halter tops, spagetti straps,
Bare backs calling to the sun
White fabrics popping on
Tanned skin. Shirtless boys playing football
On the grass in cargo shorts.
Bug eyed shades. Skimpy pink bikinis,
Sunbathing for all to see
Their well formed bodies and
Brightly painted toenails.
Never have i less enjoyed
Nectar-sweet shaved ice
From a street vendor...
Cherry Mango, Passion Fruit.
Popsicles that stain my tongue blue.
Or creamy soft serve
From a packed Dairy Queen window.
The first ears of corn.
The black charred stripes
On meat straight from the grill.
Hotdog buns, lemonade,
Lays potato chips, mustard,
All served on the patio.
Never have i taken less pleasure
In the way New England forests smell
When the green returns to the trees
As i pick my way across a rocky trail.
Or the shock of the first toe
Dipped into frigid water.
Going barefoot in the yard.
Driving round town in your Jeep
With no destination,
Listening to ska and smoking a joint.
Watching you tip your kayak
In two feet of water. Or the flowers
You steal from other people's bushes.
What happened to the joy of snowed in days?
What happened to the festive displays of lights,
We drove slowly by, admiring?
What happened to worn in sweats?
What happened to clinging
To the one we love for warmth
As we walk briskly from our cars
To our living rooms
Eager to snuggle on the couch
And watch a favorite movie?
Loathe to leave our warm cacoon
Of blankets when the sharp alarm
Of daytime sounds and draws us apart.
Never have i paid so much attention
To the way my pupils dilate
As i shift my focus
From the bright parking lot
Where the sun reflects off shiny red cars,
To the dark lecture hall
Where a teacher's drowsy voice
Aids my daydreams of another chilly night.
Expand and Retract.
Expand and Retract.
Shifting, Shifting.
From Icicles to Icees.
Flipflops, frisbees, frosty treats,
The first signs of Spring
Which beckon Summer,
Beckon me outside,
And beckon you away from me.
Towards the garish print sundresses,
Orange, teal, purple,
Hibiscus flowers, polka dots,
Halter tops, spagetti straps,
Bare backs calling to the sun
White fabrics popping on
Tanned skin. Shirtless boys playing football
On the grass in cargo shorts.
Bug eyed shades. Skimpy pink bikinis,
Sunbathing for all to see
Their well formed bodies and
Brightly painted toenails.
Never have i less enjoyed
Nectar-sweet shaved ice
From a street vendor...
Cherry Mango, Passion Fruit.
Popsicles that stain my tongue blue.
Or creamy soft serve
From a packed Dairy Queen window.
The first ears of corn.
The black charred stripes
On meat straight from the grill.
Hotdog buns, lemonade,
Lays potato chips, mustard,
All served on the patio.
Never have i taken less pleasure
In the way New England forests smell
When the green returns to the trees
As i pick my way across a rocky trail.
Or the shock of the first toe
Dipped into frigid water.
Going barefoot in the yard.
Driving round town in your Jeep
With no destination,
Listening to ska and smoking a joint.
Watching you tip your kayak
In two feet of water. Or the flowers
You steal from other people's bushes.
What happened to the joy of snowed in days?
What happened to the festive displays of lights,
We drove slowly by, admiring?
What happened to worn in sweats?
What happened to clinging
To the one we love for warmth
As we walk briskly from our cars
To our living rooms
Eager to snuggle on the couch
And watch a favorite movie?
Loathe to leave our warm cacoon
Of blankets when the sharp alarm
Of daytime sounds and draws us apart.
Never have i paid so much attention
To the way my pupils dilate
As i shift my focus
From the bright parking lot
Where the sun reflects off shiny red cars,
To the dark lecture hall
Where a teacher's drowsy voice
Aids my daydreams of another chilly night.
Expand and Retract.
Expand and Retract.
Shifting, Shifting.
From Icicles to Icees.
Flipflops, frisbees, frosty treats,
The first signs of Spring
Which beckon Summer,
Beckon me outside,
And beckon you away from me.