FEBRUARY PISCES

    Because night is still dark and cold

and day’s light has not quite

returned,

and rain beats down on old oak leaves,

and wind bends the fern’s fronds to the ground

and small birds peck to find tree seeds

not yet sprouted,

    Because the neat, slender blue-green leaves

emerge before the giving of the gift

and we anticipate

sun on gold bright petals –

   Daffodils are the preferred flower

of February Pisce

            by Karen Laslo, 2/20/17