Pokeweed Waits

Pokeweed waits underground, snow crusts small greenish white flowers, leaves entire and alternate, black berries poisonous, ripe late. Waits patiently past February when the sun stays up in the sky more than January and six more months after that past the peepers keeping watch for every passing dog or truck. We await our time or have had it, or are having it. Body in slow, not precipitous, decline. Expend ourselves on work and wine. Percent of budget expended, year to date. I heard a redwing this morning who might have been choosing a nest site holding the spot against chevrons from the south. Choosing the best site, away from predators, near water, in sight of seed and buds. It happens that when the pokeweed fruit pokes out the chicks were born, the fledglings flown leaves already leathery and the weather has the faintest hint of January's cold snow hold.