Spring came early
Or so I hoped
I fooled myself with the green
And a day or three of warm sun
I ignored the almanac
Maybe they’ll make it
Planted the potatoes and onions
Then snow came again
with frost to bite.
The child we were expecting
became still
We had a name, early this time
Sunita, if a girl
Sunny
Oh Sunny
we made for you a crevice
old womb
in the richest soil we have
Not rich as the land
of your parents’
childhoods
But as rich as we have
Where prairie and mountain meet
We will plant
chokecherry here
Where you have returned
to Our Mother