Spring people

for Jonno

What anger in my hard-won bones
or heritage of water
makes me reject the april
and fear to walk upon the earth
in spring?

At springtime and evening
I know how we came
like new thunders beating the earth
leaving the taste of rain and sunset
all our hungers before us.
Away from the peace of half-truths
and springtime passing unsaid
we came in the touch of fire
came to the sun
lay with the wild earth
until spent and knowing
we brought forth our young.

Now the insolent aprils bedevil—
earthy conceits—
to remind us that all else is forfeit
and only our blood-hungry children remember
what face we had
what startling eyes.