| spring comes secretly. soft rain, gentle breeze, warm sun— frost dissolves away reveals damp, rich earth— buds unfurl their tight wrapped skins show their green-leaf hearts. all radiates life. hatchlings break fragile cradles attacking the warmth, so small, so strong. four, six, eight, ten, twelve—last egg sways slower, slowest, still. unborn, forgotten, empty. winter’s shadow lingering. line count: 14 |