THE HEART EXPECTS 

A new year begins;
troubles, regrets, even sins
like blades of grass
beneath a layer of snow,
kept by nature from
growing before their time
till spring again...
its bitter-sweet harvest
of expectation, sown
and nurtured with loving care,
only to be found wanting,
an uncertain future left to face,
caught fast between rock
and hard place, confronted
with love v life under
threat of this or that heaven’s
well-honed knife;
laughter lines exposed for
half lies by unshed tears,
a whitening of hair
like snowflakes falling
on a looking glass,
one for each trouble, regret,
even sin, conspiring with
Earth Mother to let the grass
grow again, inspired
to sing about love and peace
among her own, though
confronting yet another year
of deserving better

Copyright R. N. Taber 2008