Neal Ostman

Sprang!

Tassel-head weeds toss in a fresh wind.
Stretch up over rye neighbors, hang out
Tap-dancing till they snatch the first drops
of April’s christening.

Through Amtrak’s window
two dark-eyed, little girls
gape at the onrush—
mottled homes, apartments,
fenced off lots containing semi-trailers
parked in rows like soldiers on parade.

Soon big rumble-mo flees the city, shoots out.
They wonder at boundless parks
with crowds of trees and yellow flowers.
Exclaiming, they spy floppy-eared cattle
wearing cinnamon skins, sporting big humps—

shouting, asking for chocolate milk
they bug their mother from her serenity.
She doesn’t get it
tells them to keep still,
and they can’t.

Someone’s taken the lid off.
Under clean blue skies
goose pimples crop up anytime.
Cool wind runs its finger along autos
driving people to speed, young couples to kiss.

There’s a hustle in this spring.

Neal Ostman’s poetry has appeared in various journals, anthologies and e-zines. Recent publications include: Book of Matches, Panoplyzine, Willawaw Journal, and WordFest Anthology 2022. His poetry readings have been well received at many venues in Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, and other cities in his travels. In addition to poetry, his published credits include humor and business articles. Neal is a member of The Poetry Society of Texas. He lives in Colleyville, Texas.