O fresh day in February

O fresh day in February

         Come along

with me under pine whose new cones

                  make flowers.  In a mellow mood

             let's take anything

     and you're better

in the peaceful flowing

in the beach

in the bird who flys up

      out of coyote bush,

      bob cat who crosses the road

      For who could think I could see

the grace of other souls born, and reborn

         before in crab shells

         snail shells, the head of a grebe

       moleskin, new onions up.  Drawn by

your clever sleigh of tortoise

                I listen for the melody

                to sing along.

                                        ~Joanne Kyger

Illustration by Arthur Okamura