Welcoming Spring

March has left yet the forest
floor remains deeply entrenched in
snow and ice. Winter's wind still
weaves its emphatic presence 
through the forest canopy, the 
masts of trees meeting and clacking 
in the conversation of familiar
winter. But the sun has found its
new perspective in the spring sky
as blue as morning glories eager
to begin the melt into spring.
The season's reverse migration 
has begun. A hawk spiraling above
suddenly veers and descends
its prey's memory serving it well.
Robins perch among the sumac
berries dreaming of worms,
while paper-transparent beech
foliage rustles in the presence 
of nuthatches. Above, the sight
of geese returning in formation
amid familiar choruses of
 orderly discipline. The forest
creatures that semi-hibernated
suddenly recall the allure of
familiar haunts and avid palates.