I wonder if the cherry blossoms are starting to bloom
in Kyoto, if the Philospher’s Path still smells like machine oil,
soy, the ruddy tang of citrus on a Sunday morning. If
the lupine has begun auditioning for its opening day
festivities, draped over the meadowed shoulders of Farila,
their purple-pilled stems high-kicking their way through
winter’s gritted teeth. The bruised Indiana moon feels
restless too, waiting for the trillium to wake, for the mayapple
to reveal her breath beneath an umbrella of storms.
Pleated fields of corn, ready to roll up their sleeves,
feed summer’s need, husks blistered from the heat.
The cardinal’s song calling us home —
It’s been a few moments since your last reply.
Are you still with me?
About the author
Christina Vagenius is a writer and artist of multiple mediums, including papercut illustration and ceramics. She has received numerous awards for her children’s book, The Gift, as well as an SCBWI manuscript prize for her middle-grade novel, The Forest Heart. She was a Top-25 ArtPrize artist as well as the creator of numerous art camps for children. Christina lives on the shores of Lake Michigan with her husband, where she teaches yoga and meditation at her local studio, which offers a range of modalities to bridge body, mind, and creativity. When she’s not writing, you can find her snuggled with a cat, waiting on the perfect rainy day.