In This New World

In this new world,

I watch the rain for hours.

I know the sparrows by their

brown striped chests,

and golden crowns.

In this new world

there is time

to watch a butterfly

unfold her wings

in the warm rays of morning

or to trace the shadow

of the house next door

as the sun cuts across the sky,

Each day

the patch of light

on the back porch

grows brighter.

In this new world,

I check each day to see

if the plum tree

has blossomed.

I measure the size

of the puddle where

the gutter is rotted through

and look for snails

among the cabbage leaves

in this new world.

Now, we have left the hive

and spend hours

in the backyard

chatting with the bees.