by Russell Libby
It's warm when it should be cold.
An inch of snow, then rain, more rain.
Trees flower in Boston months early.
We all know it's wrong,
yet the pleasure of working outside
in winter colors our reactions
for a few minutes while we turn
off the lights and let the fire go out early.
Then the stories of polar bears afloat,
skiers breaking through thin ice,
warmest year ever,
and we know it's so wrong
while we wait to park our cars
and stretch our legs
and take those first important steps
into a world of uncertainty,
certain only that we need to start now.
Russell Libby writes from Three Sisters Farm in Mount Vernon, Maine. He feels good that it's snowing today, but doesn't expect it to last long.