Pokeweed Waits

Pokeweed waits

underground, snow crusts

small greenish white flowers, leaves entire

and alternate, black berries

poisonous, ripe late.

Waits patiently past February

when the sun stays up in the sky more than January

and six more months after that

past the peepers keeping watch

for every passing dog or truck.

We await our time

or have had it, or are having it.

Body in slow, not precipitous, decline.

Expend ourselves on work and wine.

Percent of budget expended, year to date.

I heard a redwing this morning

who might have been choosing a nest site

holding the spot against chevrons from the south.

Choosing the best site, away from predators, near water, 

in sight of seed and buds.

It happens that when the pokeweed fruit pokes out

the chicks were born, the fledglings flown

leaves already leathery

and the weather has the faintest

hint of January's cold snow hold.