the inner turn

there's green outside forcing its heady way
out of the earth winter has gone and spring
arrives not yet on the calendar but in living
plants and from the shallow earth no clay
holds down the roots there is a little spray
of water to encourage growth the thing
we most desire to see is life in fullest seeming
we long to see the return of human day
winter imprisons us we bow beneath its weight
our eyes are focused on the sullen earth
the blue of sky deceives us and we hate
to see the puffy clouds which give no birth
to growth and harmony but simply taunt
our thoughts with the image of a ghastly haunt