other side of the earth:         coming toward us, it’s spring, raising stems that climb along walls.         The year-old, rooted cuttings were surely placed, and today         blue-jeaned men cut the shoots back to two or three friendly buds         that press on. Surely the men must hear the old courtship in those         dark flower buds. Couldn’t they be enough for us - the gift, sure as a thought rising         from the hot center of earth? From freezing showers of electrons in the sky?         From their melody that lures our lives? From all the air drifting over the Canadian Shield?         All these to bring us a climbing strength and silken riots of inflorescence.

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Tim Bellows teaches English and creative writing at Sierra College. He has been busy publishing rambunctious, compassionate work in over 100 U.S. journals. His "Huts Under Smooth Hills" was nominated for the 23rd Annual Pushcart Prize.

For a free copy of Tim’s Prime Tips on creative writing, send an SASE to: Tim Bellows, S. E. Associates, 11230 Gold Express Drive, Suite 310-116, Gold River, CA 95670