Fed-Up
April 13 2009


It’s a street like any other.
Cars that could use a wash.
Houses, turning inward,
looking-out through blank reflective windows
poker-faced.
And moth-eaten banks of snow
holding-out in the shade.

But today, it was suddenly festive,
as if we had all at once declared it
the first day of spring
-- no matter what.
Out of nowhere
road hockey warriors,
sprouting nets
shouting “car!”
Kids
walking dogs, leashes taut,
marking-off
their territory.
And dads, pushing prams,
gurgling babies, pink and fat
staring back
wide-eyed.
Barely room to drive.

We’re all fed up with winter.
And bargaining with the weather gods
with our peculiar northern calculus
of hope
-- you can have this lousy spring,
for the long hot summer
we deserve.

As a street like any other
defiantly returns
to life.