Ice splits along the river
water seeps beneath the crust.
Rooflines drip
giving taps on rusted gutters.
Snow withdraws from fence posts
exposing the buried nail heads.

Patches of earth darken—
a crow lands near a puddle
its shadow distorts in ripples.

Branches uncoil from ice sleeves
bark glistens under runoff—
sap climbs the maple's trunk
clear beads gather at the spile.

Spring exhales.