0114 Winter Sunlight Poem by Michael Shepherd

Delicate, so frail now, almost
apologetic for their presence,
like the longtime bed-bound
taking their first unaccompanied walk,
hardly able to believe their fortune, on
this unexpected day of sunlight
offering hope to weakest winter body -
yet exploratory, determined, in
their frailty; invisibly heroic –

the tendrils of the jasmine explore,
survey with vegetable mind, the frontiers of the empire which
they plan to flood with scent some secret
time ahead; how can a stem that looks
like fine, dead wire, carry all the ruthlessness
of Nature’s will, in so tentative disguise?

the sunlight on this white winter wall,
as a slight breeze waves the exploratory tendrils,
throws up the sharp shadow of this filigree
like twin explorers of the year’s new world
dancing with each other;

a Japanese artist, seeking a new kimono
patterned to show where nature,
truth and beauty meet, might feel the need,
confronted by so delicate a sketch
of Spring’s new plans,
to grow as this jasmine,
exploring the unknown so carefully.