First Day of Spring
Sunlight speckles your skin, shadows of moon-
like crescents highlight your hair. The day breaks
free, ready to freckle your face and bleach you
blonde. You are ready for this, this springtime,
ready for the breaks to set and the bird bones
of your hand to pick peaches again. You’re ready
to unfurl your heart from its fist, for the dust
to scatter like stars, to spatter your chest cavity
like sparkles. You’re ready. Open the blinds
and let the light come in.
Despy Boutris’s writing has been published or is forthcoming in American Poetry Review, American Literary Review, Copper Nickel, The Journal, Colorado Review, Prairie Schooner, and elsewhere. She teaches at the University of Houston, works as Assistant Poetry Editor for Gulf Coast, and serves as Editor-in-Chief of The West Review.
