Jack ex Machina
that familiar ache
in the western sky
the sun, a bawling fire
like a jack from a box
a memory springs
there’s a grand stretch to the evenings
my mother would say
in Spring.
Over at earthweal, Sarah Connor, asks us to celebrate Imbolc
“Today, I want to think about Imbolc. Traditionally celebrated at the start of February, Imbolc is a festival of new life and new beginnings. The name derives from “in the belly” — the first stirrings of life, seeds starting to sprout. In Northern Europe the days are starting to lengthen. Lambs and calves are starting to be born. Snowdrops are appearing, and buds are swelling in the hedgerows. It’s a time when my stride starts to lengthen and my shoulders go back a little. The darkness of winter is starting to lift. Everything is trembling on the brink of the explosion of life that is spring”
This a a rewrite of an older poem, which I couldn’t get right, so it’s a new beginning and it references Spring and springs.
Stopdraggingthepanda 
I love the familiar ache in the opening lines – and then you surprised me with the amazing wordplay. Spring never ceases to surprise.
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Thanks Kim!
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Your mother was right. And every time you use that image I love it again. (K)
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Thanks (K), much appreciated!
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And it stretches even longer as spring passes by. I did like Jack😉
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Thank you!
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Brilliant! Love the quote –a grand stretch…….
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Thank you Kim!
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Oh, there’s a lot packed in here, the way those familiar words pop back to surprise us. I like this a lot.
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Thanks Sarah! And thanks for the prompt!
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I love that remembered comment from your mother…..sigh. Beautiful.
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Thanks Sherry, much appreciated!
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For a seemingly short and simple poem this has so much depth to it, from the ‘familiar ache
in the western sky’ through to the ‘grand stretch to the evenings’ – expansive.
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Thank you, Ingrid!
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“In Spring” unsprung with an old also ancient memory.
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Thanks Brendan!
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I love the bawling and then the memory of your mother;s words’ like a jack from a box
a memory springs’
there’s a grand stretch to the evenings
A great mix of memory and hope for those longer evenings.
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