Spring's Victory

I burst into the battle running,

bare arms nearly numb.

Sunshine takes the

edge off the wind.

Rotting pumpkins on porches,

and on every door a

wilted evergreen wreath.

A straw man submerged in snow,

bound to the mailbox post.

Everything is

melting, and the

rivers drench my

tennis shoes.

There is a

sunken snowman

slipping into the earth with

hands stuck straight up

like a drowning man.

The excited commotion from the

storm drain is enough

to scare away winter.

I see blue in every

piece of puddle, the earth

drinking desperately from the sky.

This is

spring's victory.