Anticipation by SallyV Truss

A winter rowan fills the frame 
Red fruit topped by fierce cold                                 snow    
Everlasting January arctic flow. 

The western sky hardens 
Long grey arch                                                           forms 
At the edges of the river valley. 

Magpies quiet. Chickadees                                     still 
Wait. Nothing moves. 
What holds the warm west wind?
 
Not a twitch. Not a quiver. 
Anticipation rests on the                                         frozen 
Berried branch. Anticipation begs. 

Anticipation rustles the wing-tip                            feathers  
Of a high-flying goose. 
Squirrels twitch in their estivation. 

Waiting. Anticipation holds.                                    inhabiting 
Holding space for                                                     the dream of   
A touch of warmth. 

​Previously published in HWY 22: Poetry, Songspiel and Rant by SallyV Truss (Passwords Enterprises).

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About Sally V Truss
Her collection of poems, rants, and songspiel “HWY 22”, “Fates" and “Ley Lines & Land Mines” mark her entry into Calgary’s poetry community. In spring of 2026, SallyV will launch her reading of Jan Truss’s award-winning novel “Bird at the Window” as well as her own audio chap-books of poetry, “Immigrant Child” and “The Cowboy Trail”. For more information go to www.sallyvtruss.ca