Happening For Some Time Now

For two days last week a warm 

southern wind troubled the February coast. 

This has been happening 

for some time now. Smelling 

spring earlier than ever before, 

I was twelve again and waiting 

for my breasts to grow before knowing 

the boys would change too. It was the smell 

of poleward migrating westerlies

and new winds sprouting up, the smell of  

New York’s first typhoon season 

and fresh charcoal over worn maps. 

Shedding my boots and coat and then 

standing there, at the open window, I was 

such a creature it was almost unbearable. 

I heard sailors do not mind the wind after long

but I am far too busy

rummaging around for nothing at all 

to ask myself how I will love 

something I no longer recognize.