herons soar
over frothy
tumbles of water
seeing
what cannot be seen
from the shore

turtles meditate
on slick stones
exposed
for the time
by a lack of energy

sunlight
surprisingly sparkles
as it dances
across
the murky flow
softened by islands

all of this
ushers in the
warm and gentle
beginnings
of spring

suddenly
her nose
directs her eyes
to a solitary figure
on a rusting bench

she could smell
the library in the book
as she watched
a finger
pointing to each word

like a wispy cloud
covering the sun
the smell was ephemeral
but strangely
tattooed on her heart