Beatnik Harbinger Of Vernal Equinox

On the border
between
darkness and light,
after I had finished planting
peas and kale
spinach salad greens and chard,
the chill wind died,
and in its lull
I felt Her coming
to my tiny forest garden
in a growing sense of wonder,
apprehension,
and quiet rattling swish of footsteps
through the brown of last year's leaves.

I did not want to look:
I never do,
eternally afraid that She
will be the last thing that I ever see,
yet I
can never keep my eyes away
from the insistence of
Her presence,
and so I turned
from the final dregs of dying sunset
to the coolness of coming evening.

In my bulb bed,
close against
the eastern side of home
where morning sun
first warms cold earth
my crocuses all opened up
to welcome growing night
and perfect beauty,
while my narcissus,
of all flowers
Her favorites,
unfurled
and lifted all
their golden faces
to turn as one and greet
their sacred Mistress
as my gaze followed their's
across the patio and
twilight lawn,
past our old black walnut tree
into the gloom
beneath the branches
on the garden's other, farther side,

Where She stood waiting:
long hair shining
still midnight black
from Hades' slow embrace
framing oval face,
dark skin shimmering
faint with silver,
gray eyes bright
and wide
with knowing everything,
filled with innocence and passion,
womanhood and ancient wisdom.

Curve of smile on Her perfect lips
sang shining in my blood and bones
almost unendurable,
Her hands, lifted up in benediction,
stilled my breath and heartbeat,
and in that instant
everything
that grew and died
crawled or soared or
swam or walked or ran
was me
rushing outwards
into everything
connected.

Her Mother moved upon the world then,
vast and powerful
turning
Her attention
to my little patch of garden,
turning me back into mortal;
in soundless voice I heard her chant
"Come my daughter, come away,
for many are the lands
upon which we
must lay our hands
this day"
And with a bow Her daughter turned away,
into cool new night made warm,
yet Her Mother lingered,
regarding me,
and as I gave my thanks
for renewal and new life
Demeter winked,
and I knew that it was Spring.