january leaves and spring love - poetry collection

city life isnt as bad as it seems

in january,
when the flowers no longer bloom and the branches are barren,
the smell of rosemary and alfalfa no longer wafts to your nose.
city life stays the same, in perfect accordance with the season,
you can feel the warmth from the smokestack as you leisurely walk down first avenue,
the still traffic becomes television and the rusty fire escape outside your window serves as proof of the passage of time.
you've lived in a city all your life and for the first time in a long time you're starting to see your presence. You had your first kiss by the dumpsters next to your high school, and the barista at the brick and mortar coffee shop across the street remembers your order.
in the summer you'll go back to rural life,
spending your afternoons on the prairie or by the pond,
but for the time being you'll spend your time walking the sidewalk and appreciating what's right in front of you,
and suddenly,
the city doesn't feel as bad anymore.