Three Aubades

When the sun rises                 the sun
washes the hills                       studs the sky
with new violet                       transfigures earth
and the old green                    rich with celebration
of myriad seasons                   rekindles desire
when bird and insect              and all the cells
leaf and flower                        you long thought dead
join the palpitant                     pulsing
parade, and day                       once more
dawns unused                          vigorous
as the first morning                  as reveille
then bones and blood              the old verities
know tide pull                          again emergent
north star burning                   lighting
its last red embers                   your one choice—to rejoice

Connie Jordan Green lives on a farm in East Tennessee where she writes and gardens. She is the author of award-winning novels for young people, poetry chapbooks, poetry collections, and a newspaper column that ran for over forty years. She is a retired educator and frequently leads writing workshops. Visit her website at conniejordangreen.com.