The last, least sliver of a silver moon
in a cloudless sky
fades in the brightening light
of a red ball sunrise.

A slight frost fringes the shadows
on the grass past the edges
of the house and barn.

Thicker drifts of snow
still hold to their retreating edges
and within the shade of buildings
and branches
and the sides of slopes and ditches.

It takes a greater warmth
than slightly above freezing
to ease into these colder places
where fewer traces of sun
and warm breeze can reach.

There are such places
in our lives
and among those that we know
where it takes more
than some slight glowing
to bring the freshening thaw,
a release
for the pleasing season of growing.

H. Arnett
3/8/13