It’s so simple watching from the car
the way the leaves get wholly green again.
It’s so easy waiting for the rain
that doesn’t have to travel very far
to hit us up and bring its discontent
into a low-grade mid-spring afternoon
like Sunday traffic. I remember when
just walking under them was anguish. Then
a livid stem emerging, or a leaf,
was all it took to summon full-fledged grief.
I flowered also, I was full of torment
like spring trees leaving. That was my intent:
to keep it going, being different.
It was who I was and what I meant.