Sally Blossoms
Cody Hartley
The budding and the
falling leaf were one.
-Edna St. Vincent Millay
In winter when the air is thick with wind
And stiff with rain, the Lord may chance to send
A day or two or three of still and sun;
And branches barren since the autumn-frost
Will seize the day to fling themselves in flower
Mistaking January's spell for May.
Then winter's forces gather all their power,
And February rain holds back for none.
Let newly springing flowers count the cost
And check the bottom figure for the loss-sums
Of virgins making overmuch of time.
O the heart goes out to sally blossoms
Whose hearts were right to spend themselves in spring
But gave their best to rain before their prime.
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