Spring

Spring in Winnipeg like a hammer
between the eyes, like a sudden drop
into green, like the whipping off
of a tablecloth from beneath the dishes.
Spring like a sock in the face, spring
like flinging open the curtains to the sun,
spring making us squint like hermits
unearthed, spring remorseless and loud,
spring revealing all our old sins, laughing
forgiveness, singing glee, oh spring.
Spring in Winnipeg, calling and calling
the streets full, the sidewalks noisy,
spring with its socks off, spring in sunglasses
spring with a handful of mud, spring
smelling the rain, spring like a shout
of trumpets, oh spring, oh joy,
oh spring.