strip me

strip me clean of worries—
our county’s winter loss
of bees, rising temps and fires
some states banning books

strip away my weapons terror
and fake-news fear
while you’re at it,
take self-interest, too

leave me fresh day wonder—
squirrel, tail a-twitch,
shimmies up the feeder,
gophers thrive below

light tenders the field
house sparrows flit nearby
an Anna’s hummer sips his fill
keep me this close-in

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.