(A pantoum)

We hear the beat of new life’s drum,
when grass and flowers rise like dough.
Beauty sings when the heart is dumb,
after sackcloth silence of snow.

The grass and flowers rise like dough,
spring paints with many colors bright.
After sackcloth silence of snow,
we watch the birds and envy flight.

Spring paints with many colors bright,
and sunshine’s daffodils grow fast.
We watch the birds and envy flight
while memory lilacs the years past.

The sunshine’s daffodils grow fast,
we hear the beat of new life’s drum.
Our memory lilacs the years past.
Beauty sings when the heart is dumb.

 

Lorraine Jeffery is a retired public library director, and mother of ten children (eight adopted, two bio). She has published over 200 poems in various journals including Naugatuck River, Ibbetson Street, Front Range, Clockhouse, Last Stanza and Front Range. She also published one poetry book and three chapbooks (Kelsay Books).