Spring Fever Ghazal

by Sophia Breschi ‘26, Sloan Criner ‘25, Lizzie Diamond ‘27, Martha Ernest ‘24, Matthew Ezzell ‘25, Jillian Gangaram ‘27, Houston Johnson ‘27, Erika Kengni ‘27, Tut Linen ‘26, Thomas Maghie ‘27, William Melton ‘27, Lily Pareso ‘26, Jay Seevers ‘26, Arhana Sethi ‘26, Eve Spencer ‘26

I’m crushing hard on spring today.

She’s flashing her daffodil bling today.

The tree in the yard with parched lips—

Its leaves and branches look lean today.

I heard a melodious nightingale.

Maybe I should go bird-catching today.

Grasping at new growth, gulping pollen, I,

former inchworm, float on a wing today!

Soft sand sticks to suntanned cheeks and

I’m definitely not making ch-ching today.

The Maury glistens and whispers,

“Don’t worry about a thing today.”

Beyond a rainbow drawbridge, behind

a cloud portcullis, they are spectating today.

Great winged scaled beast light up the skies.

February’s dragons grace Beijing today.

Mercury rises. The sky’s on fire. But

cold memories still cling today.

My father’s face looks just like mine

as I smile on the red swing today.

She’s hiding backstage, strangled by fear.

Get someone else: the herron can’t sing

today.

Fields of long grass shimmer like her hair

kissing

my calves. For her, I’d do anything, today.

Patiently waiting for that sprout of love...

So many engagements but no ring today.

I wandered with lust into my garden.

The cherry blossoms went off with a bang

today.

Flowery thoughts throw me into a spin while

scabs of depression, peeled, sting today.

He will cry in earnest diamonds, in blue

jays, in gangs

of mathematical lines. The evening sun’s

wheeling today.