WINTER FRUIT

(for North Dakota)

The river dances

With power

Of melting snow

Along

And threatens

To overtop its banks,

To wash away

Levies of sweat equity

To take adverse possession

If only for two weeks--

Or maybe four,

Maybe six--

Before relinquishing

Its occupancy

Of houses, farms, fields.

Fear runs

As cold as the water,

As fast as the current,

Southward,

Eastward,

Westward--

Wherever

It can carve a channel,

Cut its way

Into the heart

Of a life

That it once

Bordered.

Cold, cruel fluid,

Moving quickly,

Carrying

Winter out of spring

And into summer.

They dream hopelessly

Of binding up

Wounds,

But wait

For winter’s fruit

To fall

Before new life

Can be replanted.

Copyright (c) 2011 by the author