Spring And All

By the road to the contagious hospitalunder the surge of the bluemottled clouds driven from thenortheast — a cold wind.

Beyond, thewaste of broad, muddy fieldsbrown with dried weeds, standing and fallenpatches of standing waterthe scattering of tall

All along the road the reddishpurplish, forked, upstanding, twiggystuff of bushes and small treeswith dead, brown leaves under themleafless vines —Lifeless in appearance, sluggishdazed spring approaches —They enter the new world naked,cold, uncertain of allsave that they enter.

All about themthe cold, familiar wind —Now the grass, tomorrowthe stiff curl of wildcarrot

One by one objects are defined —It quickens: clarity, outline of

But now the stark dignity ofentrance — Still, the profound changehas come upon them: rooted theygrip down and begin to awaken