All Decked in New Greenery

It's Springtime,

and she's all decked in new greenery,

            designed by this cool, gray-skied

                        artist named April Showers  who arrived late,

in May.  She's never been one for calendars.

Thinking I wouldn't need them—

after all, it is May— I'd put away my sunshine glasses,

            good for warding off any darkness

                        that might come creeping in on a day like this,

                        so when you told us that guilt has nearly drowned him

            because he failed to stop her            

from drinking herself to death, I couldn't tell

whether it was rain or tears soaking

my cheeks. Oh, precious friends, we

cannot

            stop

                        this

                                    rain,

and surely we would if we could,

            being the sun-worshippers that we are.

                        Dry shelter is all we have to offer.  

                       

I wanted to hold you, to let your pain

            be diluted in both our tears. But you were across

                        the room, and this was not the time.

           

Maybe he thought that, too, the day

            she drank herself into springtime,

                        all decked in new greenery.

Carol Barrow

May, 2016