"Spring Is..."
by Gabrielle Thompson - March, 1998 Spring is…
Misty mornings, evoking stirring thoughts of Creation coupled with
salmon-and-gold sunrises heralding robin-egg blue skies.
Our waking to bird song and the sun’s gentle caress after
Winter’s dark solitude.
Spring is…
The watercolor wash of new leaves’ citrus glow by early morning light,
banishing the grayness of Winter.
Crocus, pansies and daffodils—eager initiates rushing
to Spring’s invocation—and forsythia’s yellow bells brilliantly demanding
appreciation.
Blue-green tulip leaves transforming their bed overnight,
causing me to rescue vases from the cupboard and reunite them with their
rightful positions throughout the house.
Bradford pear, redbud, saucer magnolia, and the dogwood
as they follow their own particular rhythm in the succession of Mother
Nature’s spectacular parade.
Wild iris growing in fairy rings deep in the forest, and
the eager greeting of the brook nearby.
Spring is…
Freeing the porch plants from their cramped window
placements, and hosing them down to remove the wood smoke’s grimy caul.
The buzz of hornets and carpenter bees as they search
for porch rafter homes.
Zephyr’s dancing through newly opened windows, and ladybugs
delighting in their escape.
Spring is…
Lawn’s metamorphosis into the promise of summer, with wild violets
sparkling in sunlight like purple and yellow jewels as we hunt for shamrocks
with leprechaun dreams.
Robins covering the field, gleefully pulling up earthworms…
and I follow, breaking the earth’s long fallow, readying it for seeds bought
by catalog months before.
Muscles that paralyze from over-exhaustion after a 5 month
hiatus.
Spring is…
Peepers waking from their long rest, joyfully creating an ode to
warmth.
The wonder in discovering buff-colored eggs tucked into
down-lined nests, hidden under fuzzy pussy willows along the pond’s bank.
Raucous, salacious laughter of the ducks as they frolic on the lake.
The first sighting of fawns, seemingly connected to their
mother’s side.
Chipmunks and bears visiting in their search for sustenance.
The dogs’ frisky leaps as they chase returning butterflies.
Spring is…
Dying eggs brilliant colors, representing hope eternal.
Little girls in patent-leather shoes, bonnets and crisp
new dresses, holding baskets filled with treasure.
Sunrise service transforming sleepy faces with the vibrant
promise of rebirth.
My heart brimming with the ecstasy of life.
The reflection of my love in your eyes.
--Gabrielle M. Thompson
© 1998 Gabrielle M. Thompson Congratulations, Gabrielle! In May, one of Gabrielle's
articles will be published in VICTORIA PRESS, a literary journal featuring
works of WNC Community College faculty and staff. The article is about
bioluminesence and the magic of things that glow in the dark... about a
Fairy trek taken to discover the REAL glowing "fairies" that
appear in wet woods here in WNC for only 2 weeks in May.
Gabrielle & Ed Thompson live with their daughter at Eco-Cove, raising trout for sale and tending gardens on 117 acres in
Marion, NC. Gabrielle also works in the McDowell Tech library and as a
free-lance writer. The family relocated to N.C. from the Virgin Islands,
where they spent 14 years hosting sailing tours on Satori, a 75' sailboat
they built, with their singing parrot, Barnacle Bill.
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