i saw the daze of winter
fading from the eyes
of the downtrodden
as a fire had been kindled
afresh
in the dying embers
of august’s barbecue
a bare-footed retinue
flexed their toes
in the muddy spring
stretched their arms
yawned out their souls
and dug in again
backs laden with
the vexing hope of
another summer
— ptkh 050413