Snow Melt

The January thaw fools us all,
merely land’s false labor and spotting,

because a full-term spring gestates
until April — precocious ones

late March — when Sol’s cleansing finally
dissolves winter’s ivory caul. Streamside

in the hollers, the thaw reveals
both Jacob and Esau — tea green buds

and last year’s fisher-trash — blue worm boxes,
vape cartridges, corn cans, empty chaw