Everything is speaking
the daffodils this morning
tilting their yellow mouths
said the sun had returned
too bright
too early
The forest answered otherwise
winter shaming itself
into the shadow of us
offering rain
instead of frost
Even the empty air spoke
and the small irregular beat
in my chest
I made the extra coffee
two sugars
milk frothed to a soft crown
Set it down
beside the hollow
your body once kept warm
Steam rising
into no one
Everything speaks
light through the curtains
the cooling cup
the absence that does not argue
am I listening
or am I
speaking
