All February we’ve been eying this sunshine warily–
you’re lovely, we all stipulate,
but what does this undeserved balminess portend?
We’ve suffered through no serious winter:
just enjoyed our oranges and lemons on perfect Saturday afternoons,
in backyards and on patios since late January,
Tasting uneasiness in the sour of our citrus:
there hasn’t been enough rain,
we complain
(even those of us who don’t garden, who don’t farm)
and, when is it coming?
We’re all thinking,
when it rains, it pours,
and do all these sunny daffodils
and sassy quince blossoms
decorating the whole of February
mean that we’re in for some kind of monster
monsoon
March?
Melanie C. Madden 