Strawberries ripen, their scarlet-red sweetness staining the cheeks of students whose bodies, unripened, rail against the conformity of stiff backed chairs and bolted down desks. Spring has dared to don the cloak of summer – green emboldened fields trampling over delicate beginnings; and we are splash pad, motorcycle revving, boom box crazy, ready to plunge into the swelter, restless.
Strawberries ripen
Spring’s sweet offerings foretell –
Summer games begin.
(Image my own)
(A haiku for Spring)
Subtlety unknown,
Spring’s repertoire bold and bright –
soul responds in kind.
(Image my own)
Oh that Spring gale,
she’s such a storyteller –
awakens the land
fiddles with expectations –
Welcome post-Winter trickster.
(Image my own)
How am I to work today
as a black squirrel navigates
precarious saplings
with death-defying sure-footedness?
And the Red-bellied woodpecker
thrums outside my window,
having mistaken brick for walnut bark
his bright red cap catching my breath
And how can I ever hope to focus
when a flit of yellow coming to rest
at our array of feeders, indicates
that the Goldfinch is declaring Spring?
The Chickadees are calling “you-who”
and the Blue Jay dares to ask
“Where are the peanuts?”
and I am feeling a tug of guilt
Even a starling,
perching on the windowsill
peers inside and ponders
what attraction keeps me glued
I’ve papers to write, blogs to read
and, well, a need to fulfill expectations
but how am I to concentrate
when Nature is so full of promise?
(Sketch my own)
Cheer growth –
beneath a heavy cloud cover
Canada goose passes
overhead, while I
wander
Wander –
behind a veil of rainy grey
lens poised to capture life –
swallows swoop and
rise up
Rise up –
over rushing waters, branch high,
blackbirds huddle, demand
my attention –
focus
Focus –
reveals newness: buds breaking through,
colours promising that
chilly winds disperse,
cheer growth
Cheer growth –
behind a veil of rainy grey
blackbirds huddle, demand
chilly winds disperse –
cheer growth.
(Cheer for Spring first appeared here April 2019, and is a Garland cinquain. Image my own)
It was birdsong
stopped me in my tracks
distracted as I was
by pandemics
and ceaseless worry
I looked up
I looked up
and there was glory
white blossoms
triangulated
against endless
blue sky
Blue sky
like a messenger from afar
lifting my spirits
stirring longing
It was birdsong
stopped me in my tracks
I looked up and understood.
(This poem, inspired by the photo I took on a recent walk, was written for Reena’s Exploration Challenge. I borrowed the line “messenger from afar”. Image mine)
Robin’s melody bait
for this weary soul –
I hear promise
but nature is fickle
Winter renews onslaught
mocks any hope –
Solution to melancholy
once again delayed.
(Image from personal collection)
Bright day –
hope breezes
through open window
sparrow lights
on windowsill
espies me cock-eyed
What wonders
keep you inside?
he queries
I sputter…
lacking adequate
response
pardon me
for abandoning…
have another call.
Subtlety unknown,
Spring’s repertoire bold and bright –
soul responds in kind.
Cheer growth
beneath a heavy cloud cover,
Canada goose passes
overhead, while I
wander.
Wander,
behind a veil of rainy grey,
lens poised to capture life,
swallows swoop and
rise up.
Rise up,
over rushing waters, branch high
blackbirds huddle, demand
my attention:
focus.
Focus
reveals newness, buds breaking through,
colours promising that
chilly winds disperse,
cheer growth.
Cheer growth,
behind a veil of rainy grey
blackbirds huddle, demand
chilly winds disperse;
cheer growth.
(Dark Side of the Moon offers this final cinquain challenge: Garland Cinquain.
Deep thanks to Abigail for teaching us this form. I have enjoyed the challenge.)
One Woman's Quest 