The first hot April day the granite step br was warm. Flies droned in the grass. br When a car went past they rose br in unison, then dropped back down. . . . br br I saw that a yellow crocus bud had pierced br a dead oak leaf, then opened wide. How strong br its appetite for the luxury of the sun! br br Everyone longs for love's tense joy and red delights. br br And then I spied an ant br dragging a ragged, disembodied wing br up the warm brick walk. It must have been br the Methodist in me that leaned forward, br preceded by my shadow, to put a twig just where br the ant was struggling with its own desire.