Frozen Promise

It happens every year –
and still I hope
All it takes are a few sunny days,
a couple warmish nights,
and the Magnolia tree in my
neighbor’s yard is adorned with
plump pinky buds full of promise
It happens ever year –
a frosty night forces the buds to
shrivel up in brown sweaters
promises unkept
It happens every year –
and still I hope