Mary Zartman

Thank You For The Word

You think it will never rain again

global warming has doomed us to hell on earth

then for three days the smell

of dirt unfastening its secrets

leaves lifting their dusty faces

to the wet shower—sticks like

ammonia in your nose—

telling you bark

telling you trees and shrubs and shit

there is shit everywhere

and Lazarus grass has risen green again

blueberry bushes are grateful they can bathe

you wonder what is in the air

what word is it petrichor