dogs stare

dogs stare wan, reproachful
jackhammer medley now the hood's main motif

a buzz saw whines up the scale
steps up the registers and backs down
in sweet modulation

from the street corner big bangs
in the building boom of early spring
sad old canine voices can't compete

spring planting

glacial glacial
spring emergent breath
now frosty, now slowly nuzzling
fresh-turned earth on the avenue

tender backhoes churn and screw
wide-lipped furrows
waiting to receive
an urban monster dibbler's seed