light touches earth's sleeping mouth / 

earth releases intimate gasp / 

fragrance spreads through drift of air / 

damp absorbed by thirst swells rose / 

tight bud threatens to split / 

if plucked  / 

thorn will startle / 

blood peek out the thumb / 

look for what has gone / 

for what will come / 

and that is all / 

day begun


Poem and Image: Jo Mariner