Late Afternoons in Early March

Late afternoons in early March are masculine.
Like quiet fathers, they hold onto light –
just long enough to demonstrate their might –

remain as strong and bright and undefeated
as the end of any day could ever be:
suggest the welcome fantasy they hold

the key to everything: they will bring us
safely, smoothly into Spring: all will be all right.
Until, that is, they’re murdered by the night.

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