Dear blackbirds with your red wings rising
dear April greening grass dear just-burned prairie
and scrim of ice on the pond with no name
dear golden retrievers dear proper brown schnauzer
dear morning man with your three rescue dogs
dear actually every dog in the world
and all the Canada geese and these four wood ducks
and that crow in the craw of that branch
dear chill on my face
dear spring-around-the-corner forecast on my phone
dear café where we stop to get a scone
dear coffee for two dear you

Jeanie Tomasko lives in Middleton with her husband, Steve, two overstuffed cats and one dog who is very happy that she just retired in June and can throw more balls now.