A purple crocus
first to reveal
the expected surprise
outstretched
its pretty petals
over the brown
lifeless bed 
happy to spring
from the waiting
sleep of winter
innocently proclaiming
a season of joy
unaware that this is
not     a     good     time

Scott McConnaha is the author of a poetry chapbook titled Without a Prayer, and his work has appeared in Mobius, The Avocet, Door is a Jar and other publications.