The faithfulness of spring

by John Bourke

I noticed a bare leaf the other day,
Hanging on a branch for dear life
As December winds cleaved through the branches,
Wrenching the last limp vestiges of life
Into the dark vortex of winter.

I thought too of the harsh words clashing on the news,
The granite of opinion from men who know,
Hardly, the full measure of other men and of all things;
Clinging desperately to their view.

Later, I recalled the faithfulness of Spring,
When light and heat magically coax new buds into flower
And longed that some December Wind
Would come amongst us
And gently cleave the hardened word,
So that we might find that silent mystery beyond
And, maybe, coax in us a kinder kind of power.

IAHIP 2023 - INSIDE OUT 99 - Spring 2023