What’s needed is a freshening of outlook,
spring cleaning--rooting out the bitter rinds
of winter lurking in some kitchen nook,
a wizened orange that we cannot find.
It’s time to weed out all those old dolors,
to look for loopholes in the hidebound law.
What’s needed here are gypsy-dancing colors,
the crocus starting up through last year’s straw,
a loosening up of some tight-fisted buds,
a swish of yellow willow brooms, a hint
of resurrection stirring through the blood,
a thorough mop-up of time’s icy footprints,
a listening to the wind tune up its strings,
a shaking out of damp and mildewed wings.
Dolores Stewart Riccio
(Published in The Bridge Winter 2000)
Printed here with the poet's kind permission
3 comments:
"What’s needed is a freshening of outlook, spring cleaning--rooting out the bitter rinds of winter lurking in some kitchen nook..."
And: "A thorough mop-up of time's icy footprints..."
These lines resonate the most with me, and I thank you for that!
"What's needed is a freshening of outlook" - slowly but surely I am coming round to Spring's outlook. Spring cleaning, I'm not so sure. :) This old body isn't what it used to be... One step at a time. First the outlook, then maybe the movement will follow :) I'm still in the bud stage...
"It’s time to weed out all those old dolors" - makes me feel like it is time to release that which is so weighted on my heart.
I am working on this in my own life.
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