Prairie Burn Coda

Cindy Crosby

Copyright © 2006 Cindy Crosby. All rights reserved.

Wood betony sets up its sideshow;
first fistfuls of crinkly rhubarb leaves
pierce the cold black ashes.

Soon, its dwarf carnival rides of butter yellow
leap up! swirling into the newly sprung tallgrass.
The once-smoldering midway comes alive
jabs of emerald
the smell of damp earth
a killdeer’s call.

"Ladies and gentlemen,"
barks the wind,
"Please turn your eyes to the center ring."

I kneel down
I don’t want to miss a thing.