Erica Minton

MARCH

The world
swollen like a bee sting

and then spring

The world
swollen like a bee sting,
wet to the waist, frost-wrung

and then spring

The world
sting-swollen,
wet to the waist, frosted,
raw-nosed, thaw-rotten

and then spring

The world
swollen and wet,
frosty, hostile
and gray-lidded

and then spring

The world
swollen and moldy,
hostile and mildewed,
slush-tongued, moth-soft,
worn and lukewarm, winter
until the tea runs out

and then spring
from the heel
forward